The investigation into the devastating Air India flight crash that claimed 270 lives has made a significant breakthrough with the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The CVR, which captures crucial audio from the cockpit, including pilot conversations, alarms, and ambient sounds, will play a vital role in determining the cause of the accident. The flight data recorder (FDR), which logs essential flight parameters, had been recovered earlier.
The CVR and FDR collectively form the “black box” of a plane, a vital tool in air crash investigations. Despite being designed to survive crashes, the devices are often damaged, making the recovery and analysis process challenging. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the inquiry, assisted by teams from the US and the UK.
“The AAIB has launched a detailed investigation, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a parallel probe under international protocols, since the aircraft is American-made,” a statement released on Sunday said. Officials from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have also visited the site, further underscoring the complexity and international scope of the investigation.
A high-level committee set up by the Indian government will submit a preliminary report within three months and propose new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent similar incidents. As the investigation continues, families of the victims are grappling with the trauma and uncertainty of the disaster. Many are still waiting for the remains of their loved ones to be identified through DNA matching, a painstaking process that has been slowed by the extent of the damage.
Mistry Jignesh, waiting outside the hospital for updates on his niece, expressed his frustration: “When people are still missing, how can they complete the DNA process by tomorrow? What if my niece’s remains haven’t even been found? The wait is killing us.” The identification process has been slow, with over 270 bodies recovered from the site, and more than 90 victims identified through DNA matching so far.
The crash of Air India flight AI171 has sent shockwaves across the nation, and the investigation will be closely watched to determine the cause of the tragedy and to prevent such incidents in the future.