A black box has been recovered from the wreckage of Air India Flight AI171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing more than 240 people, police sources confirmed on Friday. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport when it plunged into a medical college hostel, marking the worst aviation disaster in over a decade.
Authorities revised the death toll to 241, including passengers and individuals on the ground. The previous toll of 294 was adjusted after officials acknowledged duplicate counts of body parts.
Read More: Air India Flight Crashes After Takeoff in Ahmedabad, 242 Dead
Sole Survivor Identified
The sole survivor, identified as a British national of Indian origin, was seated in seat 11A next to an emergency exit. Currently hospitalized, he recounted the terrifying moments after takeoff, telling Hindustan Times:
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed… It all happened so quickly.”
His boarding pass was reportedly found and shared with local media.
Crash Details and Recovery Efforts
According to Ahmedabad police chief G.S. Malik, the crash occurred just moments after the aircraft took off, plummeting into the Ahmedabad Medical College hostel during lunchtime. Five hostel students were among the dead. The impact left aircraft debris strewn across the site, with the plane’s tail lodged atop the building.
CCTV footage captured the plane flying low over a residential area before disappearing from view, followed by a massive fireball.
State health officials are now collecting DNA samples from families to identify victims. Many bodies are charred beyond recognition.
Passenger Details
According to sources and Air India, the flight carried:
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217 adults
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11 children
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2 infants
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169 Indian nationals
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53 British citizens
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7 Portuguese
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1 Canadian
Investigation Underway
The black box, crucial for decoding flight data and cockpit communications, has been retrieved and handed over to aviation safety authorities for analysis.
Air India and civil aviation authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the crash. Officials have not ruled out mechanical failure or pilot error, but definitive conclusions will follow forensic and technical assessments.
