Air India Crash: Cockpit Voice Recorder Found, 'Black Box' Key to Unraveling Deadly Accident
Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 270 people. The black box is key to understanding the cause of the disaster.
Enet
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has been recovered from the wreckage of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed last week shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing at least 270 people.
The CVR, along with the previously recovered flight data recorder (FDR), forms the aircraft’s "black box" — a critical tool in determining what led to the tragic crash. The plane was en route to London when it went down, causing one of the deadliest air disasters in Indian aviation history.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India is leading the investigation, in coordination with U.S. and U.K. authorities, including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Teams from Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer, have also visited the crash site.
The CVR captures audio from inside the cockpit, including pilot communications, alarms, and ambient sounds. Paired with the FDR, which logs data such as altitude, speed, and engine performance, investigators hope the information will provide crucial insight into the final moments of the ill-fated flight.
Also Read: The Impossible Escape: How One Man Survived a Catastrophic Air India Crash
A high-level government committee is set to meet for the first time on Monday to review early findings and begin drafting a preliminary report. The panel is expected to deliver its initial report within three months, along with recommendations to improve flight safety.
Ongoing Grief and DNA Identification Efforts
As the investigation progresses, families of the victims continue to grieve and wait for closure. Officials have recovered all 270 bodies from the crash site, but due to severe burns and damage, many remain unidentified.
So far, over 90 victims have been identified through DNA testing. Among the confirmed dead is Vijay Rupani, a former chief minister of Gujarat, whose funeral will be held with full state honors in Rajkot.
For many relatives, the slow pace of DNA identification is agonizing. Jignesh, waiting outside a hospital in Ahmedabad, told the BBC that he still has no word on his niece. “If people are still missing, how can they finish the DNA testing so soon? What if my niece’s body hasn’t been found? The wait is killing us,” he said.
Also Read: Air India Disaster: Black Box Discovery Fuels Hope for Answers Amidst Devastation
Next Steps in the Investigation
While investigators comb through the black box data, aviation safety experts warn that it may take weeks — or months — before definitive answers emerge. The crash has sparked widespread concern over safety standards and prompted calls for renewed scrutiny of airline protocols and emergency procedures.
The international aviation community is closely watching the probe, given the aircraft’s U.S. origin and the international nature of the flight.
As families mourn and officials search for answers, the tragedy has become a painful reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance in aviation safety.
