Ahmedabad, June 13 (IANS): Investigators have recovered the black box from the wreckage of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing several passengers, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The device, which includes the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), is expected to provide critical insights into the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash of Flight AI-171.
The black box, contrary to its name, is bright orange for visibility and is engineered to withstand intense heat, water pressure, and violent impact. It stores vital information such as flight speed, altitude, engine performance, and cockpit communications, which will be analyzed to determine the cause of the crash.
In a related development, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has also recovered a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the wreckage. Authorities believe the DVR could offer supplementary visual data, potentially capturing the final moments of the flight and assisting investigators in establishing a precise timeline.
The combined analysis of the black box and DVR is expected to be central to the ongoing probe.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the family of former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who died in the crash. Expressing his sorrow in an emotional post on social media platform X, PM Modi wrote, “It is unimaginable that Vijaybhai is not in our midst. I’ve known him for decades… We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times.”
He described Rupani as humble, hardworking, and dedicated to the party’s ideology. Modi added that Rupani rose through the ranks with unwavering commitment and served Gujarat with distinction as Chief Minister.
Vijay Rupani’s wife, Anjali Rupani, returned from London after learning of the tragedy and was present during the meeting with the Prime Minister.
As the nation mourns the loss, aviation and forensic teams continue their investigation, focusing on technical data and possible clues from the crash site.
