Officials investigating Sunday’s Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad confirmed that the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) has been recovered — a critical development that could help determine the cause of the disaster that killed 270 people, including 241 onboard.
Earlier, only the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) had been found. With both black boxes now secured, investigators expect a clearer understanding of what led to the crash of the Boeing 787-8 (AI 171) shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft was headed to London but crashed into the BJ Medical College campus in Meghaninagar, killing nearly all passengers, crew, and 29 people on the ground, including five MBBS students.
Principal Secretary to PM Modi, Dr. PK Mishra, visited the crash site and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, where the injured are being treated. He chaired a high-level meeting at Circuit House with officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Airports Authority of India, and state and central government departments. Officials briefed him on rescue efforts and investigation progress.
According to an official release, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also conducting a parallel investigation under international aviation protocols, since the aircraft is US-manufactured.
At BJ Medical College, Mishra reviewed the crash site and was updated on the sequence of events and emergency response. He later visited the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar to review DNA matching efforts for identifying victims. Authorities were instructed to expedite the identification process while maintaining scientific accuracy.
Mishra expressed deep sorrow, saying, “I am very pained by the enormity of the tragedy. Everybody is sad. It is our duty to share grief and express our feelings for the victims.”
He assured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office is committed to providing full support to victims’ families and ensuring coordination among all involved agencies. He was accompanied by PMO officials Tarun Kapoor and Mangesh Ghildiyal during the visit.
