Indian investigators have made a critical breakthrough in the Air India Flight 171 crash, which tragically claimed the lives of over 269 people, including a significant number on the ground. The flight data recorder was located at the crash site on Saturday, a development that promises to shed light on the sequence of events leading up to the disaster.
The flight, which was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Only one of the 242 passengers survived the accident. Central to the ongoing investigation is the data from the black box that records crucial flight parameters, such as altitude and speed. "This significant step will enhance our inquiry," stated India's civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
In response to the crash, India's aviation regulators issued an order for Air India to implement immediate additional maintenance checks on its Boeing aircraft fleet. Initial analysis has raised questions about the plane’s wing flaps and slats operation and the deployment status of the landing gear.
As investigators sift through wreckage, emotions run high among the victims' families gathered at Ahmedabad’s hospital, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. By Friday night, only a limited number of bodies had been identified due to ongoing DNA testing.
The chaotic scene unfolded as the aircraft careened into a medical college nearby, its tail hitting a dining area occupied by students. Rescue operations are ongoing to retrieve additional remains and personal belongings scattered throughout the crash site.
Ground fatalities remain unconfirmed, but reports suggest that as many as 36 individuals might have perished in addition to those on the flight, indicating the true scope of this tragedy is still unfolding.
Pragati K.B., Mujib Mashal, and Suhasini Raj contributed to this report from Ahmedabad, where they continue to cover the aftermath of this devastating incident.
The flight, which was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Only one of the 242 passengers survived the accident. Central to the ongoing investigation is the data from the black box that records crucial flight parameters, such as altitude and speed. "This significant step will enhance our inquiry," stated India's civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
In response to the crash, India's aviation regulators issued an order for Air India to implement immediate additional maintenance checks on its Boeing aircraft fleet. Initial analysis has raised questions about the plane’s wing flaps and slats operation and the deployment status of the landing gear.
As investigators sift through wreckage, emotions run high among the victims' families gathered at Ahmedabad’s hospital, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. By Friday night, only a limited number of bodies had been identified due to ongoing DNA testing.
The chaotic scene unfolded as the aircraft careened into a medical college nearby, its tail hitting a dining area occupied by students. Rescue operations are ongoing to retrieve additional remains and personal belongings scattered throughout the crash site.
Ground fatalities remain unconfirmed, but reports suggest that as many as 36 individuals might have perished in addition to those on the flight, indicating the true scope of this tragedy is still unfolding.
Pragati K.B., Mujib Mashal, and Suhasini Raj contributed to this report from Ahmedabad, where they continue to cover the aftermath of this devastating incident.
