Ahmedabad, India: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed the recovery of the “black box” from the wreckage of Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The crash, which occurred in the Meghaninagar area near the airport, tragically claimed 241 lives. The recovered black box, officially known as a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), is crucial to the ongoing investigation.
Its analysis will provide vital insights into the final moments of the flight and potentially reveal the cause of the devastating crash. Ahmedabad Fire Brigade officials reported that a specialized team, equipped with metal cutting tools, worked diligently to locate the black box within the scattered wreckage at the crash site.
In addition to the FDR/CVR, authorities have also seized the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from CCTV cameras at the nearby BJ Medical College hostel, capturing visual footage that may further illuminate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI171) losing altitude rapidly before crashing in Meghaninagar at approximately 1:39 PM, engulfing the area in flames and sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew. The AAIB investigation is now focused on extracting and analyzing the data from the recovered black box to determine the sequence of events that led to the tragic incident.
