
Flight data recorder found at Air India crash site
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau says it has recovered the digital flight data recorder, or the black box, of an Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad from a rooftop near the crash site.
It said the bureau has begun its work with "full force".
The black box recovery marks an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post.
Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator issued an order directing Air India to do additional maintenance and enhanced safety inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines.
The key inspections include fuel parameters, cabin air compressor, engine control system, hydraulic system and a review of take-off parameters, according to the order.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the lone surviving passenger on Friday, a day after the Air India flight fell from the sky and killed 241 people on board and several people on the ground.
The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when it fell in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after take-off on Thursday.
DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition.
More victims are expected to be found in the search at the crash site.
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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tiny detail from survivor may help solve Air India mystery
The death-cheating Brit sole survivor of the Air India disaster has revealed a clue that something was wrong just moments before the crash. Vishwash Ramesh, 40, said the cabin lights began flickering before the jet sank through the air – a detail which could help solve the mystery of the catastrophe, The Sun reports. Recalling the moments before tragedy, Vishwash, from Leicester, said: 'When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. 'Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white. 'The aircraft wasn't gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.' Vishwash's flickering lights revelation comes after a passenger, who took the plane the day before the crash, claimed electrical parts such as the back-of-seat screens weren't working. Aviation experts have speculated that the reports of dodgy electrics could be a sign of a power failure, possibly explaining the crash. Air India is keeping an open mind as to what went wrong and caused the deaths of 52 Brits. Theories being considered include issues with the engine thrust, flaps and landing gear – as well as a bird strike and a pilot error. And the Indian government's investigation is also considering whether Air India was at fault in any way. India's aviation regulator had recently ordered the airline to safety check its entire Boeing 787 fleet. Vishwash is the only person who can provide an insider's witness account of the moment – and previously said he has 'no idea' how he survived. He said: 'I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me [ …] I walked out of the rubble.' The lucky escapee speculated: 'I think the side I was on was not facing the hostel. I don't know about others.' Other analysts have suggested he managed to escape thanks to a flying piece of fuselage – which was caught soaring through the air on video. Vishwash's seat was 11A, right next to the emergency door, which is understood to have blown off when the plane struck the building and then exploded. In the unbelievable footage, a tiny object is seen flying away for a split second – right before the jet is engulfed in flames. Investigators continue to analyse the footage and search for the mystery piece of debris as they try to find out what caused the horror crash. Recalling the moment of disbelief when he found himself alive, Vishwash said: 'At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage. 'I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening and crawled out.' 'When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. 'Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.' Vishwash that the plane caught fire before he fought through the rubble – and then exploded when he was just out of harm's way. Footage shows Vishwash, staggering and caked in blood with locals helping him an ambulance. Speaking in Hindi, he says: 'I just got out of the plane, it exploded.' From there he was rushed to hospital, and has since heaped praise on the medical staff treating him. He said: 'My treatment is going well, and the people are very supportive.' Vishwash's brother Ajay was on-board the plane and died.


The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Air India black box recovered after crash killed 241
The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered in what likely will lead to clues about the cause of the accident that killed 241 people on the plane and a number of others on the ground. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said that it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. Investigators on Friday continued searching the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the lone surviving passenger a day after the crash. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," Modi said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered in what likely will lead to clues about the cause of the accident that killed 241 people on the plane and a number of others on the ground. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said that it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. Investigators on Friday continued searching the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the lone surviving passenger a day after the crash. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," Modi said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered in what likely will lead to clues about the cause of the accident that killed 241 people on the plane and a number of others on the ground. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said that it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. Investigators on Friday continued searching the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the lone surviving passenger a day after the crash. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," Modi said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered in what likely will lead to clues about the cause of the accident that killed 241 people on the plane and a number of others on the ground. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said that it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. Investigators on Friday continued searching the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the lone surviving passenger a day after the crash. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," Modi said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation.


Perth Now
19 hours ago
- Perth Now
Flight data recorder found at Air India crash site
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau says it has recovered the digital flight data recorder, or the black box, of an Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad from a rooftop near the crash site. It said the bureau has begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marks an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator issued an order directing Air India to do additional maintenance and enhanced safety inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. The key inspections include fuel parameters, cabin air compressor, engine control system, hydraulic system and a review of take-off parameters, according to the order. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the lone surviving passenger on Friday, a day after the Air India flight fell from the sky and killed 241 people on board and several people on the ground. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when it fell in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after take-off on Thursday. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. More victims are expected to be found in the search at the crash site.