Black Box: India plans to send the badly damaged black box from the Air India Boeing 787 crash to the United States for detailed analysis. Investigators failed to extract data in India due to extensive fire damage caused by the crash. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), commonly known as the “black box,” are typically installed near the tail section of the aircraft, an area usually least affected during crashes. Though painted bright orange for visibility, these devices often suffer heavy damage from high-impact collisions or post-crash fires.

According to media reports, experts will examine the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) laboratory in Washington, D.C. Since international aviation protocols require the country where the crash occurred to lead the investigation, the U.S. team will share the analysis results with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Although the AAIB established a laboratory at its Delhi headquarters last year, it can still not extract data from severely damaged recorders. To ensure proper handling, the NTSB will transport the black box to its facility under the supervision of Indian authorities, a source familiar with the matter told a financial daily. Because 53 British nationals were among the victims, investigators from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will also participate in the analysis.

Also Read: What Is Black Box and What It Can Exactly Say About Ahmedabad Plane Crash

Air India Crash Black Box:

Investigators use black boxes to gather crucial information during crash investigations. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captures important audio from the cockpit, including pilot conversations and ambient sounds like electronic warning signals. The flight data recorder logs essential technical metrics such as timing, altitude, and airspeed. The recovery process depends on the extent of the damage to the units. Experts say it can take anywhere from two days to several months to retrieve data. “To prevent further data loss from damaged recorders, we remove the memory board and retrieve the chip,” an official explained. “We also evaluate the condition of the electronic circuit.”

Engineers design the Boeing 787, like other modern aircraft, with multiple backup systems and redundant critical components to ensure operational safety and reliability. Even if multiple systems fail, the aircraft can fly for up to 345 minutes on a single engine. The investigation team is actively exploring several possibilities. They are examining why the landing gear deployed, whether the wing flaps functioned correctly, and whether fuel contamination or electronic failures contributed to the engine malfunction. The pilot’s last communication was a single Mayday call. After that, air traffic control received no further response, according to Samir Kumar Sinha, secretary of the civil aviation ministry.

Also Read: Air India Claims ₹4070 Cr Insurance, Offers Peanuts to Families?

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