Air India: Indian Government to Decide on Overseas Analysis of Flight Recorders after Crash
- At least 270 lives were lost when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, triggering a wide-ranging investigation
- Indian aviation authorities have yet to decide whether the aircraft’s black boxes will be analysed domestically or sent abroad for decoding
- Meanwhile, safety inspections across Air India’s fleet have intensified, prompting temporary international flight reductions
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has yet to confirm whether the black boxes recovered from last Thursday’s fatal Air India crash will be sent abroad for decoding and analysis.
At least 270 people, most of them passengers, were killed when a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed less than a minute after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in western India.
Source: Twitter
The tragic incident marked one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history.
Air India: Black box recorders recovered
Investigators recovered both sets of Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs)—commonly referred to as black boxes—on 13 and 16 June.
These advanced devices, which record flight data and cockpit audio, are standard on Boeing 787 aircraft and are crucial in piecing together the flight’s final moments. They provide precise data on gear and flap lever positions, engine performance, fuel flow, and emergency activations.
Air India: No decision on flight recorders
Despite speculation in the media that the black boxes are being sent overseas, the Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified that no such decision has been finalised.
“The AAIB will determine the location for analysis after a due assessment of technical, safety, and security factors,” the ministry stated.
Some reports suggested that the recorders were severely damaged in the post-crash fire, potentially complicating efforts to extract critical information in India. Sources indicated that the devices might be sent to the United States to facilitate proper analysis.
Air India black box: Expert seeks collaboration
Captain Kishore Chinta, a former AAIB accident investigator, told the BBC that one set of recorders might be sent to the US “to compare the data downloaded in India with that provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)”. He noted,
“It’s unclear whether [the AAIB lab in Delhi] is fully operational for EAFR data downloads,” despite its inauguration in April.
Air India engines had ‘clean’ histories
Air India chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, earlier told Times Now that one of the aircraft’s engines was new, while the second was not due for servicing until December. He added that both engines had “clean” operational histories before the crash.
Source: Getty Images
Fleet-wide inspections completed; flight reductions announced
The airline confirmed that 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft have passed safety inspections and were “cleared for service”. In the aftermath of the crash, India’s aviation regulator mandated additional safety checks across Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet as a “preventive measure”.
Air India has since announced a temporary reduction in international operations. From 21 June to 15 July, flights on 16 international routes will be reduced, and services to three overseas destinations will be suspended.
According to the airline,
“The reductions arise from the decision to voluntarily undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East.”
The flight reduction announcement followed a decision by the carrier to cut operations using wide-body aircraft by 15% amid intensified safety protocols.
Air India reduces flights on 16 International routes
Legit.ng earlier reported that Air India announced it would cut back on 16 international flight routes and suspend services on three key connections between June 21 and July 15, citing extended flight durations due to Middle East airspace closures and the implementation of enhanced pre-flight safety checks.
The Tata Group-owned airline confirmed the changes in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, explaining that the measures were designed to reinforce its operations following a recent aviation tragedy.
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Source: Legit.ng
