The tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday has resulted in confirmation of 270 fatalities. Despite this, the precise cause of the crash remains unknown. However, the black box from the Air India flight en route to London has been recovered, which may unveil the communication between the pilot and Air Traffic Control (ATC) before the crash. According to sources, the pilot, Sumit Sabharwal, reportedly communicated last words to ATC prior to the 'Mayday' call.
Issue with Plane Thrust Noted
According to sources, moments before the plane crashed, the pilot indicated an issue with the aircraft’s thrust and reported 'FALLING' to ATC. During this transmission, the pilot also highlighted the weak communication link before sending the final Mayday message. Unfortunately, before ATC could intervene, the crash occurred.
Air India pilot messages signaled aircraft issues, as Flight AI171, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:37 PM and subsequently crashed. The aircraft descended approximately 400 feet, striking a hostel building in Meghani Nagar before impacting the ground.
Only One Survived Onboard
On this flight to London Gatwick, 242 people were onboard, consisting of 230 passengers, two pilots, and 10 crew members. Of these, 241 have been confirmed deceased. Ramesh Vishwas Kumar, of Indian origin but British citizenship, is the only survivor, now under treatment and stable.
The tragedy involving Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner marks the first significant incident associated with this aircraft since its introduction in 2011, claiming 270 lives. Among the victims were medical professionals and trainees nearby during the impact. Air India has announced compensation of INR 10 million to the families of the deceased.
The Importance of the Black Box
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), responsible for probing aviation incidents, recovered the flight’s black box 28 hours post-crash. This crucial device, located near the plane’s tail and orange in color, records every pilot-ATC conversation, aiding in understanding pre-crash communications.
Post-Ahmedabad accident, the Civil Aviation Ministry announced advanced security checks for all Air India Boeing 787-8/9 fleet starting Sunday. Checks include fuel, engine, and hydraulic systems, as per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-mandated reviews, from which reports are expected.
Earlier, Minister Naidu, in his first briefing after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, mentioned the ongoing decoding of black box data, with multiple agencies and a high-level panel conducting a comprehensive investigation. A report from a high-level committee, chaired by the Home Secretary, is expected within three months.
On
Departure
, the plane took off smoothly but soon faced issues. The
Last Call
to ATC warned of imminent trouble.
For updates and detailed insights, stay tuned as investigations unfold and bring more clarity to this aviation catastrophe.
