In the wake of one of India’s worst aviation tragedies, investigators have recovered the black box from the wreckage of an Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board and at least five on the ground.
The Boeing 787, bound for London, slammed into a residential building housing a medical college hostel on Thursday, bursting into flames and causing unimaginable devastation. The lone survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, recounted how the aircraft seemed to struggle immediately after lifting off. He said the lights flickered, and though the plane accelerated, it never gained altitude. Seconds later, it plummeted into the building. Ramesh escaped through a broken door, his seat belt unfastened, and his will to live stronger than the chaos around him.
On Friday, as health workers carried out the charred remains of victims, grieving families gathered at hospitals and morgues, searching for answers and holding on to hope that their loved ones might somehow still be alive. DNA tests are being used to identify the severely burned bodies. Four medical students living in the hostel were confirmed dead, with dozens of others injured—four of them critically.
The recovery of the flight data recorder, found on a rooftop near the crash site, marks a turning point in the investigation. Authorities hope it will offer vital clues about the engine’s performance, flap settings, and possible human or mechanical error. Investigators, including experts from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, FAA, Boeing, and General Electric, are now analyzing the data. Preliminary findings could emerge within days.
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India’s Civil Aviation Minister confirmed that further inspections would be conducted on Air India’s fleet of Dreamliners, especially those equipped with GEnx engines. The crash has raised serious questions about aircraft maintenance, operations, and pilot procedures, especially given the 12-year-old aircraft’s prior safety record and the intense summer temperatures at the time of takeoff.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, visited the crash site and hospital. “The loss is unbearable,” he said. “The pain of the families will be felt for years to come.” He met with the only survivor, whose miraculous escape has captured the attention of a grieving nation.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, an Air India flight from Thailand was delayed after a bomb threat was discovered onboard. The aircraft landed safely, and no explosives were found.
As the investigation unfolds, survivors, rescuers, and families alike are left to confront the tragedy’s haunting aftermath—a grim reminder of how quickly lives can be turned upside down in the skies.