Ahmedabad: The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified on Thursday that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will determine the location for decoding the recovered black boxes from the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash, following a thorough evaluation of technical, safety, and security parameters. This clarification follows speculation that the flight data recorders might be sent to the United States for data retrieval due to significant damage sustained during the crash.
According to the ministry, the AAIB’s multidisciplinary investigation team has completed key recovery operations at the crash site, including documentation and evidence collection. The investigation has now moved into the analysis phase. “The decision regarding the location for decoding the flight recorders will be taken by the AAIB after due assessment of all technical, safety, and security considerations,” the ministry stated.
Authorities confirmed that a combined Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the crash site on June 13, with a second unit found on June 16. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is equipped with two such recorders, one at each end of the aircraft, for redundancy. These enhanced airborne data recorders (EADRs) capture extensive information, including cockpit audio, pilot actions, instrument settings, and system statuses.
Officials noted that the data retrieved from these recorders will be crucial in understanding the sequence of events that led to the crash. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu held a comprehensive video conference with airport directors nationwide. The meeting focused on strengthening ground-level operations and passenger support services, particularly in light of recent flight disruptions caused by post-accident safety checks, adverse weather conditions, and airspace closures due to geopolitical tensions.
The ill-fated Air India flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad. The accident is being regarded as one of the gravest in India’s aviation history. As investigations continue, authorities have begun returning the victims’ remains to their families.
The central question now facing investigators is: what caused the crash and prompted the pilots’ mayday call? The answers, officials hope, will emerge through meticulous analysis of the black box data and other evidence gathered.
Also Read: Ahmedabad Plane Crash: 211 Victims Identified, 189 Bodies Released to Families