Breakthrough in hunt for what caused deadly Air India crash after black box recovered
The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered in what likely will lead to clues about the cause of the accident that killed 241 people on the plane and a number of others on the ground.
The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad.
The plane’s digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said that it had begun its work with “full force”.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post.
The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement.
“This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash,” said Fromme, who heads the professional association’s Aerospace Division.
Separately, the country’s civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric’s GEnx engines.
Investigators on Friday continued searching the site of one of India’s worst aviation disasters and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the lone surviving passenger a day after the crash.
At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site.
DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition.
The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Modi’s home state.
“We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words,” Modi said on social media after visiting the site.
The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries.
Viswashkumar Ramesh told India’s national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive.
He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off.
He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed.
He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open.
He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane.
“When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive,” he said.
US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric.
Thursday’s Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787.
Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft.
According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation.
