Jun 14, 2025
Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad: What is a Black Box and Why it’s Important
A black box is a bright orange device designed to survive crashes and holds critical data that helps investigators understand aircraft accidents
It has two components: Flight Data Recorder (FDR) tracks speed, altitude, and engine performance, and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) records cockpit conversations, alarms, and ambient sounds
The black box helps analyze crashes, identifying technical failures or human errors to improve safety protocols and prevent similar incidents
It can endure extreme conditions like 1,100°C heat, 20,000 feet underwater pressure, a 3,400G impact, and emits a locator signal for 30 days
Decoding black box data can take weeks but is crucial for issuing safety guidelines, better aircraft design, and enhanced pilot training
In the Ahmedabad crash, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787 crashed into a residential area, killing 241; the black box was recovered 28 hours later from a nearby rooftop
The box will reveal details like MAYDAY calls, engine status, alarms, and possible causes such as mechanical failure, bird strike, onboard fire, or incorrect data inputs
Investigators are focusing on wing flap settings, engine performance, alarms, environmental conditions, and crew responses to determine the cause
DGCA has intensified inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787s, including system checks and a review of take-off parameters to ensure better flight safety
The black box data will determine the crash cause, improve aviation safety standards, and provide closure to the affected families
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