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The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday confirmed the recovery of the black box from the wreckage of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), commonly referred to as the black box, was located on the rooftop of the residential quarters of BJ Medical College, where the aircraft had plummeted soon after takeoff.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) stated that contrary to circulating reports, no digital video recorder of the aircraft had been found at the site. Officials clarified that a DVR belonging to the CCTV system of the hostel was recovered but was unrelated to the aircraft’s flight data.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Kanan Desai told PTI, “She clarified that no such thing as a digital video recorder of the flight has been found.”

Over 40 Government Officials Assist AAIB Investigation

The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the AAIB began investigations on a war footing. “Over 40 staff from the state government joined efforts to augment the MoCA teams on site,” a statement read.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the black box was recovered within 28 hours of the crash. “This marks an important step forward in the investigation. This will significantly aid the enquiry into the incident,” he wrote.

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.

— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 13, 2025

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dhrumit Gandhi told PTI, “Our team is helping forensic and civil aviation experts in retrieving the black box. The team is equipped with specialised tools such as metal cutters.”

Only One Survivor Among 242 Onboard

Flight AI-171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, took off from Runway 23 of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm on Thursday. Minutes into the flight, a ‘Mayday’ call was issued to Air Traffic Control (ATC) before communication was abruptly lost. The aircraft crashed into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College, sparking a fireball and sending thick black smoke into the air.

According to Air India, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 242 individuals, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Of these, 241 lost their lives. The sole survivor was identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin who was seated on 11A, next to an emergency exit.

The ill-fated aircraft was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 flying hours, alongside First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours. The AAIB, supported by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and local authorities, has initiated a full-scale investigation to determine the sequence of events leading to the crash.

Authorities believe the data stored in the recovered black box will be pivotal in unravelling the cause of the catastrophic accident that claimed 241 lives, including that of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.