In brief
The fate of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the recent Air India Dreamliner crash remains undecided, with considerations about sending them overseas for further analysis. Following the crash that resulted in 270 fatalities, ongoing investigations involve assessing the technical capabilities of local facilities while airlines review safety protocols.
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is deliberating whether to send the flight data and cockpit voice recorders (the black boxes) from the Air India Dreamliner crash overseas for decoding and analysis. The crash occurred last Thursday when the Boeing 787-8, bound for London, went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in at least 270 fatalities, most of whom were passengers.While some media reports suggested the black boxes would be dispatched abroad, the civil aviation ministry clarified that no firm decision has yet been reached. The AAIB will make the determination for analysis based on a thorough assessment of safety, technical, and security considerations. Investigators successfully recovered both Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) from the crash site, which can record vital flight data and cockpit audio.These recorders are critical for reconstructing the flight's final moments and uncovering the cause of the tragedy. However, it has been reported that the recorders may have sustained severe damage from the fire that erupted after the crash, which could complicate data retrieval efforts in India. There are suggestions that one set of recorders may be sent to the United States for comparison purposes, particularly with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Former AAIB investigator Captain Kishore Chinta noted uncertainty about whether the new AAIB lab in Delhi is fully operational for processing EAFR data despite its recent inauguration.In a separate statement, Air India's chairman announced that one engine of the crashed aircraft was newly installed, while the other was not due for servicing until December, asserting that both engines had clean maintenance histories. Post-crash, Air India has performed inspections on a majority of its Boeing 787 fleet, which have now been cleared for service. India's aviation regulator has enforced additional safety checks on Air India's Boeing 787 aircraft as a precaution following the incident.Moreover, Air India has decided to reduce flights on 16 international routes and suspend operations on three overseas destinations between June 21 and July 15 as part of enhanced pre-flight safety protocols and in response to increased flight durations due to Middle Eastern airspace closures.
