Investigators are running against time to crack the Air India Flight AI-171’s black box, which crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, killing 241 people. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner lost contact within seconds of taking off and crashed into a medical college hostel near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The aircraft, which made a Mayday call at 1:39 PM IST, only went up to 625 feet before the killing impact. The accident has caused international concern, as it is the first-ever fatal accident of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft was unveiled in 2011.
What Is a Black Box and Why It Matters
Even though it is called a “black box,” an airplane’s “black box” is actually orange and contains two sturdy devices engineered to withstand harsh conditions like crashes, flames, and high pressure from water.
These two units are:
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Flight Data Recorder (FDR): Tracks speed, altitude, engine performance, and pilot inputs.
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Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): Records cockpit conversations, interactions with air traffic control, and audible cockpit alerts.
Together, they contain as much as 25 hours of data. These devices play a key role in allowing investigators to reconstruct the final moments of the aircraft and ascertain if the crash was due to a mechanical failure, a human error, or other factors.
How Investigators Decode the Black Box
After being recovered, the black box is dispatched to specialized laboratories in India or overseas where professionals start analyzing the devices. If damage is detected, technicians might be required to extract and fix memory modules prior to examination.
The CVR and FDR data are synchronized and correlated with radar data, weather observations, and communication histories. Investigators often create elaborate 3D simulations to recreate the crash environment and gain a better understanding of the airplane’s performance in its final minutes.
When Will the Cause Be Known?
If the recorders are in good shape, preliminary reports could be forthcoming in 2–4 weeks. But extensive damage might postpone the decoding process. According to international aviation guidelines, an interim report should be issued within 30 days of the accident.
A detailed final report might take 1 to 2 years, considering the fact that this crash is of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner — one of the most technologically sophisticated planes with a relatively low crash history.
To assist the inquiry, specialists from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have arrived in India to assist authorities. Their participation can speed up data examination and shed light on this historic tragedy.
International Focus on AI-171 Crash Inquiry
As the world waits with bated breath, the black box continues to be the most crucial piece of evidence in determining what caused the abrupt and devastating crash of Flight AI-171. Relatives of the victims and aviation experts are also waiting for the results, which may shape global airplane safety regulation for decades to come.