India

Black Box Recovered from Hostel Roof in AI-171 Crash: Critical Breakthrough in India’s Worst Aviation Tragedy

Investigators retrieve crucial flight data recorder from the wreckage of Air India’s London-bound Dreamliner that crashed just seconds after takeoff in Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad, June 13: The black box from Air India Flight AI-171—the doomed London-bound Dreamliner that fell out of the sky—has been found atop a hostel roof in Ahmedabad. Its discovery is expected to anchor the unfolding investigation into what’s already being called one of India’s worst aviation tragedies.

Lodged in the crumbled remains of the B.J. Medical College doctors’ quarters, the recorder was pulled out late Thursday evening. Remarkably, it survived the fall.

A Critical Clue, Unearthed in Ruins

Officials with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirmed the Digital Flight Data Recorder was intact. It’ll now head to a lab in Delhi, where specialists will sift through its logs—engine data, altitudes, control movements—trying to make sense of the 30-second flight that ended in catastrophe.

No sign yet of the cockpit voice recorder. Teams are still combing the rubble.

A senior investigator, off record, described the find as “crucial, but just the first piece.” And really, it is. The questions this tragedy has raised—none of them are small.

A Normal Takeoff. Then, Nothing Was Normal.

It was 1:38 in the afternoon on June 12 when the Boeing 787 lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, headed west for London Gatwick.

A few seconds in, it started climbing. But barely had it cleared 600 feet when something went wrong. A Mayday call was issued. The aircraft stalled, tilted forward, and plunged into the hostel campus not far from the runway’s edge.

The wreckage left little to salvage—except, miraculously, one survivor.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen, was ejected from the rear section and landed in a patch of muddy soil. He’s recovering at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where doctors still can’t quite explain how he lived.

Theories, But No Answers Yet

As things stand, nobody knows exactly what happened inside that cockpit.

There are working theories—engine trouble, flap issues, a bird strike. Standard stuff in early investigations. But none of it’s confirmed.

The Economic Times reported that the aircraft showed no known mechanical faults prior to departure. But that doesn’t rule out undetected failures or mid-air anomalies.

Insiders also note that the 787’s automation systems are complex. “If the computers don’t agree, they freeze,” said one retired pilot familiar with the model. Not a comforting thought.

Worst in Decades, and the First of Its Kind

It’s the deadliest air crash on Indian soil since Charkhi Dadri in 1996. But even more unsettling, it’s the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner anywhere in the world.

A model hailed for its efficiency and digital sophistication—now stained with loss.

241 onboard, gone. Plus at least 16 more from the building it hit. Families in shock, some still waiting for identification. Outside morgues, the air hangs heavy with the sound of sobbing.

Leaders Respond, But the Public Is Restless

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site Thursday morning. He met first responders, walked the debris field. Later, he promised a thorough investigation and full accountability.

“The loss is unbearable,” he said. “The country stands with the families.”

But not everyone feels seen. Outside the hospital, relatives pleaded for transparency. Some say they’ve received no information. Others are still waiting to know if their loved ones were even on the plane.

Grief, now edged with anger.

International Scrutiny and a Long Road Ahead

The DGCA has ordered fresh inspections of Air India’s remaining Dreamliner fleet. Two jets have been grounded pending review.

Meanwhile, Boeing and US safety investigators have been called in to assist, under standard international agreements.

The black box analysis could take weeks. A preliminary report is due in 30 days. The final one—months, maybe a year away. These things don’t move fast. And every day that passes, the pressure builds.

People want closure. Some want someone to blame.

But most just want to know why.


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Author Profile
Juneja

Ravi Juneja is a student journalist currently pursuing his degree from Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication. With a passion for factual reporting and public interest stories, he covers a wide spectrum of news at Hindustan Herald, including politics, health, technology, entertainment, and global affairs. Ravi is committed to delivering balanced, research-backed journalism with a strong sense of responsibility and independence.

Source
The GuardianThe Economic Times

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