Indian investigators have commenced the process of analyzing data from the black boxes of the ill-fated Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad, marking one of the country’s worst aviation disasters in recent decades.
The fatal incident occurred on June 12, when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down shortly after takeoff, killing nearly everyone on board and causing additional fatalities on the ground.
According to a statement released by India’s civil aviation ministry on Thursday, the data extraction from both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder has begun in earnest. These efforts are being carried out by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in New Delhi.
The ministry emphasized that the purpose of this process is to meticulously reconstruct the chain of events leading up to the crash and to determine the underlying causes in a bid to improve aviation safety and avert similar tragedies in the future.
Out of the 242 passengers and crew aboard the Air India flight, only one individual survived. Additionally, 19 people on the ground perished when the aircraft smashed into staff housing near the airport, bringing the total confirmed death toll to 260, with one body yet to be conclusively identified.
The black boxes were located just days after the crash, but logistical delays meant they were only flown to New Delhi this past Tuesday. Since their arrival, investigators have been working to decode the contents to piece together the plane’s final moments.
The tragedy has left many families desperate for answers. Imtiyaz Ali, whose brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces were on the doomed flight, expressed frustration over the lack of clarity. “For now, all we know is the plane took off and then fell. How? Why? Nobody knows. And we want to know. We deserve to know,” Ali said. He voiced disbelief at the apparent absence of concrete information about the crash, questioning the state of the aviation sector’s investigative capabilities.
Air India had earlier stated that the aircraft was in sound mechanical condition and piloted by seasoned professionals. In parallel to the official investigation, police in Ahmedabad have recovered over 100 mobile phones from the crash site. Authorities hope that any recordings or data on these devices may shed additional light on what happened just before impact. The wreckage itself has been moved to a secure location where aviation experts are studying the remains for signs of possible mechanical failure or explosion.
While the technical investigation unfolds, forensic teams are undertaking the grim task of identifying victims. Hundreds of DNA samples have been collected, and dental records are proving crucial in confirming identities. Forensic dentist Jayasankar P. Pillai explained that certain dental structures can withstand extreme temperatures, allowing for effective identification even in catastrophic fires. “A protected molar tooth can withstand a temperature of over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit,” Pillai noted.
Gujarat’s health minister, Rushikesh Patel, confirmed that 260 individuals have so far been identified using DNA analysis and other methods. Only one body remains unidentified, according to a forensic team member who spoke under condition of anonymity.
Initial reports from the crash site had indicated that 279 bodies were recovered, but these numbers are now being clarified through forensic verification. Among those killed were medical professionals housed near the airport; four doctors died and more than two dozen others were injured when the plane barreled into their residential quarters and struck the canteen area.
In a show of quiet resilience, the surviving medical staff have begun rebuilding. Smit Patel, a medical intern, was among those who attended a small ceremony this week to reopen their makeshift kitchen. “For us, reopening the mess is symbolic… despite everything, we are moving forward,” he said, capturing the determination of many to heal and continue after the tragedy.
What you should know
Indian authorities have started analyzing the black box data from the June 12 Air India crash that killed nearly all 242 onboard and 19 on the ground. One body remains unidentified, and the cause of the disaster is still under investigation as families await answers.
