Air India CVR Recovered After Deadly Dreamliner Crash

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has retrieved the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), advancing the Air India crash investigation process. The CVR, which captures cockpit conversations, warning alarms, and ambient flight deck sounds, is key in determining how the accident occurred.

Authorities had earlier recovered the flight data recorder (FDR) from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner wreckage on Friday. The FDR logs essential parameters including altitude, engine performance, and aircraft speed. Together with the CVR, these devices make up the aircraft’s “black box.”

The black box remains one of the most vital tools used by experts in reconstructing flights and identifying accident causes.

The Air India flight AI171, en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It struck the BJ Medical College’s doctors’ quarters. Over 270 fatalities have been reported, including nearly all 242 passengers and crew members.

As recovery efforts continue, the Air India crash investigation has expanded to include international experts. On Sunday, officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) visited the crash site to support India’s AAIB-led inquiry.

A government-issued statement confirmed that the NTSB is conducting a parallel probe under international protocols. This is because the aircraft involved, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was manufactured in the United States.

Additionally, teams from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have arrived at the crash location to contribute technical expertise. Their participation signals the seriousness of the inquiry and its far-reaching implications.

In a parallel effort, the Indian government has assembled a high-level committee to examine the crash thoroughly. The panel is expected to convene its first session on Monday and submit an initial report within three months.

The committee will also recommend revised standard operating procedures to help avert similar tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, families are still grappling with the trauma of losing loved ones, as the recovery of remains continues.

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s Dr Rajnish Patel confirmed that over 90 victims have been identified through DNA testing. Of those, 47 bodies have been handed over to families for burial.

Investigators are still trying to determine how many people on the ground were killed. The sheer scale of the devastation has made the identification process painstakingly slow.

While the cockpit voice recorder’s recovery offers new hope, the path to closure remains long for those affected by the disaster.