Investigators probing the catastrophic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 have now reportedly successfully recovered the aircraft’s flight recorders, a crucial advancement in determining the cause of the tragedy that claimed more than 260 lives.
The London-bound flight, which took off with 242 passengers on Thursday, crashed shortly after departure, leaving only one survivor.
As of Friday, authorities confirmed that 265 individuals were dead, including medical students residing in a hostel near the crash site in Ahmedabad, where the plane went down.
The local police reported that the crash caused extensive damage to the surrounding residential neighborhood.
An early focus of the investigation is examining whether the aircraft experienced a loss or reduction of thrust, according to sources familiar with the inquiry. However, many questions remain unanswered as the investigation progresses.
The recovered flight recorders, commonly referred to as “black boxes,” were located among the wreckage on Friday, according to an official from India’s civil aviation ministry.
These devices will be transported to a specialized lab in New Delhi for detailed analysis, which could yield critical insights into the events leading up to the crash.
Air accident investigations often take months and typically explore a range of factors contributing to a disaster, including potential crew errors and maintenance failures.
In light of the incident, India’s civil aviation regulator has mandated that Air India conduct additional maintenance checks on its fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft equipped with GEnx engines.
This directive includes one-time inspections of essential systems, such as fuel and engine components, cabin-air compressors, and hydraulic systems, as a precautionary measure.
Preliminary data from Flightradar24 indicates that the Air India flight reached an altitude of 625 feet under clear conditions before ceasing to transmit location information just 50 seconds into the flight.
Efforts to establish contact with the cockpit following a mayday call were unsuccessful.
Witnesses and videos captured during the flight showed the aircraft lifting off before descending toward buildings, resulting in a devastating explosion that sent flames and smoke billowing into the sky.
The scene of destruction underscores the gravity of the incident and the urgent need for answers.
As investigators continue to sift through the wreckage and analyze the flight data and cockpit voice recordings, the focus will be on understanding the sequence of events that led to this tragic loss of life.
The recovery of the black boxes is a significant milestone, providing hope that the investigation will yield clarity in the wake of this disaster.
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