Police officers guard the area where a plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder—or black box—from the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board and several others on the ground. The discovery is expected to provide key clues to understanding the cause of one of India’s deadliest air disasters.
The London-bound Boeing 787 crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, slamming into a residential area and a medical college hostel in Gujarat’s capital city. The black box was found on a rooftop near the crash site. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has already started examining the data. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the probe is moving quickly.
Experts say the recorder will reveal details about the engine performance, cockpit conversations, and whether the aircraft lost power or had issues with lift. Mechanical engineer Paul Fromme, from the UK’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said these insights will help determine what went wrong during takeoff.
Following the crash, India’s aviation regulator instructed Air India to inspect all its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft that use General Electric’s GEnx engines. The checks will focus on fuel systems, cabin pressure, engine controls, hydraulics, and takeoff performance.
Rescue workers continued combing through the wreckage on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from Gujarat, visited the lone survivor and met with grieving families. Modi expressed deep sorrow, calling the tragedy “beyond words.”
The only passenger to survive, Viswashkumar Ramesh, shared his terrifying experience. He recalled the plane struggling just after takeoff, with the lights flickering before the aircraft crashed into the building. He escaped after the side of the plane broke open, allowing him to crawl out. He’s now recovering in a government hospital.
Experts from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing, and General Electric will join Indian officials in the investigation. Professor Graham Braithwaite from Cranfield University emphasized that the goal is to prevent future tragedies through detailed, collaborative analysis.
At the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, families of the victims waited for the identification of bodies, many of which were badly burned. Hospital officials confirmed that at least 30 students injured in the hostel are still hospitalized, with four in critical condition.
The crashed aircraft was a 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Globally, about 1,200 of these aircraft operate, and this marks the first fatal crash in the model’s 16-year history. Air India, which was privatized by Tata Sons in 2022, has recently invested in new aircraft and rebranded its image.
Local residents who rushed to the scene described utter chaos. Indrajeet Singh Solanki, one of the first responders, said there was thick smoke and fire, and they did everything they could to help the injured. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep for days,” he said.
Meanwhile, a separate Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi received a bomb threat shortly after takeoff on Friday. The plane made an emergency landing back in Phuket. All passengers were safely evacuated, and no threat was found. The flight later resumed, minus one shaken passenger who chose not to reboard.
