Air India 787 Crash Kills 270, Investigators Study Black Boxes

Investigators are analyzing the black boxes recovered from the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 270 people including 29 on the ground. The black boxes, comprising a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, are crucial for understanding the sequence of events leading to the crash, including cockpit conversations, emergency alarms, and flight data such as altitude and engine settings. Despite being designed to withstand accidents, investigators have warned that the intense heat from the crash could have damaged or melted the black boxes, potentially complicating the investigation. The pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, made a mayday call reporting thrust loss before the plane lost power and crashed into a medical college hostel, with the pilots struggling to control the aircraft in its final moments. Authorities, including experts from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with assistance from the U.K., U.S., and Boeing, are also reviewing CCTV footage, witness statements, pilot training records, aircraft load, and engine performance to determine the root cause. This crash is one of India’s worst aviation disasters in decades, and investigators caution that uncovering definitive answers may take significant time.