Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Black Box Recovered 11 Days After Using NTSB Kit

Rapid Summary

• Incident: An Air India Boeing 787 aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad last month.
• Black Boxes: Two Enhanced airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) were retrieved-one found on June 13, heavily damaged, and the othre on June 16, covered in soot but intact.
• recovery Process: Due to extensive damage to one black box, specialized equipment from the U.S. National Transportation Safety board (NTSB) was flown into India on June 23 to assist with data extraction.
• Flight Data Lab: India’s new ₹9-crore black box lab struggled with conventional methods of recovery despite being “state-of-the-art.”
• Data Retrieved:

– Approximately 49 hours of flight data covering six flights were recovered.
– Cockpit audio spanning two hours, including information about the crash event, was downloaded for analysis.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the retrieval and analysis of crucial black box data underscore India’s growing capacity for aviation accident investigation. However, reliance on foreign expertise raises questions about domestic readiness despite investments in advanced facilities. The delayed use of recovery kits potentially impacted the speed of investigation and clarity regarding procedural timelines.

Long-term implications may center around bolstering indigenous capabilities to address such emergencies independently. policymakers could evaluate whether existing infrastructure requires enhancement or if international partnerships remain vital for such scenarios. Both transparency and efficiency are key as details surrounding this incident unfold further.

For more details: Original Article