Ahmedabad plane crash: DGCA recovers black box, crucial to investigation

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane crashed soon after take-off in Ahmedabad on Thursday. So far, the tragic accident has claimed the lives of 265 people including junior doctors. In the meantime, investigative agencies have begun searching for evidence from the wreckage scattered at the crash site. 

"The Flight Data Recorder (Black Box) has been recovered within 28 hours from the accident site in Ahmedabad by AAIB. This marks an important step forward in the investigation. This will significantly aid the enquiry into the incident," wrote Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu on X.

What is a black box?

A black box is basically a ‘recorder’ planted inside the flight for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of aviation accidents and incidents.

The electronic device may be a bright orange-coloured box that is recovered after plane accidents, offering crucial information about the last moments before the mishap.

It is primarily made of titanium and enclosed in a titanium box that can survive a severe crash involving fire. Inside the box are two separate devices: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which means it not only offers the data of the technical functioning of the aircraft during the flight, it also registers the conversations that may have taken place between pilot and co-pilots, and their communication with the ATC. 

If the flight submerges into water, an ultrasonic ‘ping’ will be generated from the FDR to aid in detection.