Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
AAIB Yet to Decide on Sending Air India Crash Recorders Overseas
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is deliberating whether the flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders recovered from the Air India plane crash last Thursday will be dispatched abroad for decoding and detailed examination. The tragic Air India **Boeing 787 crash** is under investigation, and the **black box analysis** location is critical to determining the cause.
At least 270 individuals, primarily passengers, perished when the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in western India.
Some news sources have indicated that the “black boxes” are being sent overseas, however, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a clarification stating that a definitive conclusion has not yet been reached.
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The ministry stated that the AAIB will ascertain the location for analysis following a “due assessment of technical, safety, and security factors.”
Recovery of Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders
Investigators have successfully retrieved both sets of Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) – the “black boxes” – from the site of the Boeing 787 plane crash.
These integrated units, which capture flight data and cockpit audio, were located on June 13th and 16th. The aircraft model utilizes two such sets to facilitate comprehensive analysis.
Data recorders meticulously track the position of gear and flap levers, thrust settings, engine performance, fuel flow, and even fire handle activation with high precision.
The data within the plane’s flight recorders can be essential in reconstructing the sequence of events leading up to the crash and identifying the underlying causes of the incident. The **Air India flight recorders** are crucial for this investigation.
However, certain media outlets have suggested that the recorders sustained significant damage in the post-crash fire, which may impede data retrieval efforts in India. It was further reported that the government was considering sending the recorders to the United States for analysis.
Former AAIB accident investigator Captain Kishore Chinta told the BBC that one set of recorders could potentially be sent to the US “to compare the data downloaded in India with that provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).”
He noted that despite the inauguration of the new AAIB lab in Delhi this past April, “it’s unclear whether it is fully operational for EAFR data downloads.”
Air India Engine Status and Fleet Inspections
Meanwhile, Air India’s chairman has disclosed that one of the engines on the crashed Air India aircraft was newly installed, while the other was not scheduled for servicing until December.
N Chandrasekaran stated in an interview with the Times Now news channel that both engines possessed “clean” performance histories.
Separately, the airline reported that inspections had been finalized on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, all of which have been “cleared for service.”
- Aircraft Inspections: The airline completed inspections on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, ensuring their operational readiness.
- Engine Conditions: One engine on the crashed aircraft was new, while the other was recently inspected, signifying the engine assessment is compliant with safety regulations.
Enhanced Safety Measures and Flight Reductions
Following the fatal crash, India’s aviation regulatory body mandated additional safety inspections on Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet as a “preventive measure.”
On Thursday, the airline communicated that its flights would be reduced on 16 international routes and suspended on three overseas destinations between June 21 and July 15.
“The reductions stem from the decision to voluntarily conduct enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East,” the airline conveyed in a statement.
The statement followed the carrier’s announcement the previous day that it would provisionally cut flights operated with wide-body planes by 15%.