‘Black box’ from crashed Air India flight found as families await answers

International

INVESTIGATORS have recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) or “black box” from the wreckage of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad last Thursday, marking a critical step in uncovering the cause of the devastating accident that claimed at least 270 lives.

The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, went down less than a minute after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, slamming into a residential building on the BJ Medical College campus. Of the 242 passengers and crew onboard, only one survived.

Authorities are still working to determine how many people on the ground were also killed.

The CVR, which captures cockpit audio including pilot conversations and warning alarms, was recovered days after the flight data recorder (FDR) was found. Together, these two devices—often referred to as the “black box,” though they are bright orange—are essential for reconstructing the aircraft’s final moments.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe, supported by teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A high-level Indian government committee has also been formed to examine the crash and recommend new safety protocols. A preliminary report is expected within three months.

Meanwhile, the human toll continues to unfold. Officials have confirmed the recovery of 270 bodies, with over 90 identified through DNA testing. Among the victims was Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, who will be laid to rest with full state honors.

For many families, the wait for answers—and for the remains of their loved ones—has been excruciating. The identification process has been slow due to the condition of the bodies, many of which were badly burned.

Some families, like that of Mistry Jignesh, are still waiting for confirmation, a BBC report stated.

“The wait is killing us,” he said, expressing frustration over delays in the DNA matching process.(Edu Sanico Toledo, PIT Comm Intern)