Ahmedabad, India (AP) – A flight data recorder from the Air India aircraft that crashed on Friday has been retrieved, precipitating an accident that claimed the lives of 241 individuals aboard, with numerous additional casualties likely occurring on the ground.
The Boeing 787 bound for London collided with a medical school hostel right after takeoff Thursday in a residential area of Ahmedabad, located in the northwest region.
The crash site’s rooftop yielded the digital flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau announced its investigation is underway with “full force.” The recovery of the black box signifies a crucial progression in the inquiry, as emphasized by Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu on social media.
The device captures engine and control settings alongside cockpit conversation details provided by the voice recorder, as noted by Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer affiliated with a UK mechanical engineering agency.
“It offers insights particularly quickly regarding the potential loss of engine power or lift after takeoff, thereby aiding in the preliminary evaluation of the crash’s cause,” expressed Meme, head of the aerospace division in the Specialist Association.
In a separate development, the nation’s civil aviation regulatory body has mandated Air India to perform supplementary inspections on the Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner featuring General Electric’s GenX engines. This encompasses evaluations of fuel parameters, cabin air compressor, engine control systems, hydraulic systems, and takeoff variables, as per official directives.
Investigators continued to scour the crash site on Friday, marking it as one of India’s most catastrophic aviation disasters, which also fell within Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jurisdiction. The sole surviving passenger spoke just a day after the incident.
Some of the Air India plane crashed on Thursday can be seen above the building in Ahmedabad, India on Friday, June 13th, 2025.
Aviation Safety Consultant Jeff Gutzetti, a former crash researcher for both the National Traffic Safety Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration, expressed that investigators should be able to address some fundamental inquiries regarding the cause of the crashes by next week, provided the flight data recorder is intact.
Investigators are evaluating whether the wing flaps were properly configured, if the engine lost power, whether the cockpit alarm activated, and if the aircraft’s crew accurately accounted for the hot external temperature alongside fuel and passenger weight, Gutzetti commented.
An error in the data could lead to improper wing flap alignment, he noted.
“While I’m not suggesting this incident will be resolved swiftly, I believe basic factual queries can be expediently answered,” Gutzetti asserted.
The impact of the crash resulted in at least five fatalities on the ground and approximately 50 injuries, with the search for additional victims continuing at the crash site. DNA testing is being conducted to identify bodies that have been severely burned.
The plane collided with a building housing a medical college hostel, leading to flames that resulted in the deaths of multiple students in a city that serves as the capital of Modi’s home state, Gujarat.
“We are all devastated by this tragic event in Ahmedabad. The sudden loss of so many lives is heartbreaking beyond words,” Modi remarked on social media after visiting the crash site. “We share in their agony and recognize the profound void left in the wake of this tragedy.”
Modi meets a lone survivor
Survivors were present during a video conference with Modi at a government hospital, where he was receiving treatment for burns and other injuries.
Viswashkumar Ramesh shared with the Indian national broadcaster that he couldn’t fathom being alive. He detailed that the aircraft appeared to stall shortly after takeoff. According to him, the lights ignited and the plane accelerated soon after, but it didn’t seem to gain altitude before crashing.
Ramesh recounted that the side of the plane he occupied collided with the ground floor of the building, leaving an exit for him after the door opened. He managed to unscrew his seatbelt and kick his way out of the plane.
“When I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive,” Ramesh remarked.
The investigation includes US experts
Participants from the US in the inquiry comprise individuals from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing, and General Electric.
Professor Graham Brathwaite, director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, indicated that the primary objective of the investigation is to “identify opportunities to prevent future incidents.”
“Interdisciplinary teams from multiple nations can collaborate and involve experts from manufacturers or operators,” he added.
Mourning families gathered outside Ahmedabad’s Municipal Hospital on Friday.
According to two doctors at the facility, the remains of four medical students who perished on the ground as a result of the plane’s crash were handed over to their families. They reported that at least 30 other injured students remain hospitalized, with four in critical condition.
On Friday, Modi engaged with senior officials while visiting some of the injured individuals at the hospital.
The Air India incident involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing aircraft currently faces safety concerns regarding other aircraft types.
Experts note that around 1,200 of the 787 Dreamliner models exist globally. This event marked the first fatal crash in a 16-year operational history.
After decades of government ownership, the Indian conglomerate Tata Group acquired Air India in 2022, rejuvenating the debt-laden national carrier and returning it to private hands. Following the acquisition, Air India has placed orders for hundreds of new aircraft, reimagined its branding, and integrated a smaller airline in which Tata holds shares.
Witness account captures the devastation
Local residents were among the first responders at the crash site, detailing damage unprecedented in their experience.
“Initially, I couldn’t process what was happening. There was smoke everywhere. I could see a small section of the aircraft ablaze,” said Indrajit Singh Solanki.
Solanki recounted how he and many others rushed to aid the injured and transport them to the hospital. “Our sole intention was to save as many lives as possible, regardless of the situation,” he stated.
The tragedy deeply impacted him. “It’s going to be difficult to sleep for several nights to come,” Solanki remarked.
Air travel affected by threats
In a separate incident, a bomb threat was reported aboard Air India Flight AI 379, en route to New Delhi from Phuket International Airport in southern Thailand. The threat was discovered in a bathroom shortly after takeoff, authorities stated.
The plane was directed to make an emergency landing in Phuket, and all 156 passengers were evacuated before inspections commenced, according to the airport. Thai officials confirmed that the plane, passengers, and luggage underwent thorough scrutiny, ultimately revealing no suspicious findings.
Subsequently, the pilot sought to resume flights, and by afternoon, the plane took off again without passengers who opted to disembark.
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Rajesh Roy reported from New Delhi and contributed to Aijaz Hussain of Srinagar. Input was also provided by Jintamas Saxonchai in Bangkok, Piyush Nagapal in Ahmedabad, India, and Josh Funk of Omaha, Nebraska.
Source: apnews.com