The Impressive TimesAhmedabad, June 13: Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Friday confirmed the recovery of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), commonly referred to as the black box, from the crash site of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The recovery was made within 28 hours of the tragic accident and has been described by the minister as a “significant step forward” in the investigation.
In an official statement shared on social media platform X, Minister Naidu stated:
“The Flight Data Recorder (Black Box) has been recovered within 28 hours from the accident site in Ahmedabad by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). This marks an important step forward in the investigation. This will significantly aid the enquiry into the incident.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified that contrary to certain circulating reports, a video recorder earlier discovered at the crash site was not the DFDR. The actual flight data recorder was retrieved from the rooftop of a nearby building, underscoring the severity of the impact.
A full-scale investigation has since been launched by the AAIB, with support from over 40 personnel from the Gujarat State Government, working in coordination with teams from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The recovered black box is expected to yield crucial data pertaining to the aircraft’s final moments, including flight parameters, engine performance, and pilot inputs.
On Thursday, June 12, Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Flight AI-171), en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport at approximately 13:39 IST. The aircraft had issued a Mayday call to Air Traffic Control moments before losing contact and subsequently crashing just outside the airport perimeter.
The crash claimed the lives of 241 individuals, including passengers and crew members. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Only one passenger, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, survived the accident. He had been seated near an emergency exit in the economy class section of the aircraft.
The aircraft was being operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged approximately 1,100 hours.
The DFDR will now be thoroughly analysed to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the crash. Investigators will focus on:
Aircraft systems and performance parameters
Engine functionality and flight dynamics
Pilot responses and possible anomalies
Weather and environmental conditions during takeoff
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which records pilot communications, is yet to be recovered.
This tragedy ranks among the most devastating air disasters in India’s aviation history. The government has assured the public of a transparent and rigorous inquiry, with updates to be shared as the investigation progresses.
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