INDIAN aviation authorities have recovered one of the two black boxes from the Air India flight that crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least 265 people, including passengers and individuals on the ground.
According to the Hindustan Times, as reported by Bernama - Xinhua, the black box recovered was located at the rear of the aircraft and is now in safe custody.
“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will collect the equipment to analyse the recordings. The second black box, in the aircraft's front portion, is yet to be found,” a source was quoted as saying.
Black boxes, which are bright orange or yellow, are designed to withstand extreme conditions and contain critical data, including cockpit voice recordings and flight parameters. Investigators believe these devices could provide vital insight into the cause of the crash, though analysis is expected to take several days.
The London-bound Flight AI171, a 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed into the premises of B J Medical College minutes after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
Air India confirmed 241 of those killed were on board, while the remainder were local residents, medical students, and staff caught in the impact.
Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. According to the Federation of All India Medical Associations, one person at the college was confirmed dead, with over 50 others injured and several still missing.
India’s Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, who visited the crash site, said the intense post-impact fire “gave no chance” for rescuers to save passengers. Final death figures will be confirmed following DNA identification of the victims.
The only survivor has been identified as Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian descent, who is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
In a statement, Air India expressed condolences and said, “Our primary focus is to meet the needs of all those affected, including the families and loved ones of the victims.”
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched a formal probe.
Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed he had spoken with Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran and pledged full support for the investigation.
The Tata Group, Air India’s parent company, announced financial assistance of 10 million rupees (US$116,863) for the families of the deceased, in addition to covering medical costs of the injured and funding the repair of damaged college facilities.
Possible Causes Emerge as Investigators Examine Early Clues
While the exact cause remains undetermined, aviation experts have begun assessing possible scenarios. The BBC reports that the crash occurred just 30 seconds after take-off, with video footage showing the aircraft flying unusually low before impact.
One possibility raised is a rare double engine failure, which would have given the pilots virtually no time to respond. Another theory is a bird strike—Ahmedabad Airport is reportedly “notorious for birds,” according to pilots familiar with the area.
Three experts consulted by BBC Verify also noted that a failure to deploy the aircraft's flaps during take-off could have led to loss of lift.
However, other analysts have challenged this theory, indicating that conclusive answers can only come from black box analysis and the ongoing investigation. - June 13, 2025
