Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash: Black Box Recovered, What Is It And How Does It Work

A black box records flight data and conversation. In the Ahmedabad Air India crash, it’s key to understanding what went wrong and helping investigators find the cause.
Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash

Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash: On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI 171, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport. With 242 passengers and crew on board, only one man survived named Vishwashkumar Ramesh, an 11A passenger. The aircraft descended from about 625 ft and collided with a hospital hostel near BJ Medical College, tragically resulting in fatalities both onboard and on the ground.

Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash Black Box Update

According to the latest reports, authorities have recovered one of the two black boxes from the rooftop of the BJ Medical College mess building. The London-bound Air India flight had crashed in a crowded area near Meghaninagar, in the hospital hostel premises near BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will take the device to examine the recorded information.

What Is The Black Box?

Despite its name, the black box is actually bright orange in colour. It's a tough, crash-resistant device made to survive extreme impact, heat, and fire during a plane crash. Every commercial aircraft carries two such recorders. It refers to two crucial instruments:

What Is The Black Box

  • Flight Data Recorder (FDR) – logs technical data like speed, altitude, engine thrust, flap positions, and more.
  • Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – captures audio from the cockpit, including pilot conversations and radio exchanges with air traffic control.

These devices are housed in reinforced steel and titanium casings, designed to survive extreme conditions including temperatures up to 1,100 °C, strong impacts, and submersion.

How Was It Recovered?

Investigating teams, including the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with support from local authorities, recovered one black box from the rooftop of the doctors’ hostel mess building struck by the plane. It remains unclear whether this is the FDR or CVR. The second recorder is still being located. Recovery of both is crucial to know in detail about the flight’s final moments.

Don't miss:Air India Plane Crash In Ahmedabad: Know What A ‘Mayday Call’ Is And How It Works

Why Black Boxes Matter?

Black boxes are the most reliable source of information after a crash. They allow investigators to:

i) Reconstruct the flight - including take‑off speed, angle, engine performance, flap settings, and altitude.

ii) Understand pilot actions and communications - what alerts they heard, any distress calls, and commands given during the emergency.

iii) Identify technical failures or human errors - helping determine whether a mechanical fault, improper flap configuration, or runway use contributed to the crash.

Don't miss:Who Was Roshni Songhare? 27-Year-Old Flight Attendant Killed In Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash

Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash

On June 12, 2025, an Air India flight heading to London crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was carrying 242 people, including passengers and crew. Moments after take-off, the plane was seen losing altitude rapidly before crashing into a massive fireball. Thick black smoke and flames were visible from a distance, leaving people nearby in shock.

While the black box won’t bring closure to grieving families, its information is central to preventing future tragedies.


For more such stories, stay tuned to HerZindagi.

Image credit: Freepik and X (Twitter)

HzLogo

Take charge of your wellness journey—download the HerZindagi app for daily updates on fitness, beauty, and a healthy lifestyle!

GET APP