The black box from Air India Flight 171 has been recovered, offering investigators a critical clue into Thursday’s tragic crash in Ahmedabad that killed at least 265 people. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had just taken off, heading for London’s Gatwick Airport, when it went down in a residential area, barely gaining altitude.
What followed was chaos. The plane’s tail ripped through a medical hostel, and the front end slammed into a canteen full of students. Among the dead were 242 passengers and crew, along with more than 20 residents on the ground. Officials expect the toll to rise as they sort through body parts and run DNA tests to identify victims.
One man, 28-year-old British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived. He was found alive in the wreckage and is currently recovering in the hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited both the crash site and Ramesh, a moment caught on camera and shared by his media team.
Air India said the flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. Tata Group, which owns the airline, has announced compensation for families and promised to cover medical costs for survivors.
Families have been showing up at a response center in Ahmedabad to provide DNA samples, hoping for answers. One man, Ashfaque Nanabawa, said he spoke to his cousin on the plane just minutes before the crash. That call turned out to be his last.
Witnesses and volunteers who rushed to the scene described a grim sight, charred bodies and burning debris. A nearby doctor said the building hit by the plane housed medical professionals and their families.
Boeing, under pressure following the incident, has said it’s working closely with investigators. This crash is the first of its kind involving a 787 Dreamliner, a model known for its safety record. The U.S. and U.K. have both sent teams to help India’s probe.
While rumors swirl online, experts are urging patience. One theory gaining traction is a double engine failure, possibly from a bird strike, something rare but not unheard of. Planes like the Dreamliner are designed to fly with one engine if needed, which makes the sudden drop all the more puzzling.
India’s aviation industry is growing fast, now ranked fourth in the world. But this crash is a stark reminder of the risks that come with rapid expansion. In Siliguri, people held a candlelight vigil on Thursday night, quietly remembering the lives lost.
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