The Black Box of the ill-fated Air India AI 171 Ahmedabad-London flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday has been recovered, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and injured at the Civil Hospital on Friday.
The Black Box has been recovered, the Ministry of Civil Aviation informed on Friday. The orange-coloured device located near the tail of a plane will help investigate the crash that has claimed at least 265 lives so far.
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said, “The Flight Data Recorder (Black Box) has been recovered within 28 hours from the accident site in Ahmedabad by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). This marks an important step forward in the investigation. This will significantly aid the enquiry into the incident.”
Modi assessed the ongoing relief efforts during a visit to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital following the catastrophic Air India plane crash.
He also visited the crash site, where a forensics team is currently at work, piecing together the tragic sequence of events.
According to reports, PM Modi later chaired a review meeting with senior Gujarat officials, during which he was briefed on the incident. He issued a series of directives to ensure comprehensive response measures are in place.
The process of identifying the victims is still underway at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where a dedicated team of 70 to 80 doctors has been deployed at the post-mortem facility.
So far, five victims have been identified—two each from Gujarat and Rajasthan, and one from Madhya Pradesh—and their remains have been returned to their grieving families.
The magnitude of the crash has drawn attention from the highest investigative bodies.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), accompanied by officials from other central agencies, arrived at the scene to begin formal inquiries. Simultaneously, the AAIB, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has launched an independent investigation.
The AAIB is tasked with classifying safety events related to aircraft in Indian airspace, ranging from serious incidents to full-fledged accidents.
Only one person survived the crash—Vishwas Kumar Ramesh—whom the Prime Minister met during his hospital visit. His survival amid such destruction is being described as nothing short of miraculous.
The scale of devastation at the site was intensified by the explosion of more than 1.25 lakh litres of jet fuel, which caused temperatures to soar to 1,000 degrees Celsius.
According to rescue teams, this inferno rendered it “impossible to save anyone.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed the sentiment, underscoring the tragic intensity of the blaze.
The aircraft struck the hostel block of a medical college during lunchtime, drastically increasing the number of casualties on the ground. A massive multi-agency operation was mounted in response, with personnel from the Army, NDRF, CISF, and local fire services engaged in rescue and recovery efforts.
Air India’s parent company, the Tata Group, has stepped in to support those affected. It announced a compensation package of Rs 1 crore for the families of those who lost their lives, pledged to cover the full medical expenses of the injured, and committed to assisting with the reconstruction of the damaged medical college infrastructure.
Also Read: After AI 171 Crash, Air India Bars Employees From Speaking To Media https://www.vibesofindia.com/after-ai-171-crash-air-india-bars-employees-from-speaking-to-media/
