A day after the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, investigators recovered one of the aircraft’s black boxes—the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR)—from the rooftop of a medical hostel into which the plane had slammed. The search continues for the second black box, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which remains unaccounted for.
“The flight data recorder (black box) has been recovered within 28 hours from the accident site in Ahmedabad by AAIB,” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X. “This marks an important step forward in the investigation. This will significantly aid the enquiry into the incident.”
The crash, which occurred on Thursday, is being counted among the worst aviation disasters in India in recent years. The ill-fated aircraft, carrying 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew members—crashed into a staff hostel on a medical college campus in Ahmedabad, erupting into a massive fireball that left a trail of destruction.
While the government has not yet released an official casualty figure, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that only one person survived.
However, Ahmedabad Inspector General Vidhi Chaudhary reported a higher toll, stating that 260 people had died—suggesting that several lives were lost on the ground when the aircraft collided with the hostel. Officials also confirmed that at least 50 medical students housed in the building sustained injuries.
Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene that unfolded. “A massive fireball and black smoke rose into the sky moments after the aircraft went down,” said a local resident who witnessed the crash.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a full-scale probe into the crash, with support from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other central bodies. Over 40 personnel from the Gujarat State Government are also on the ground, assisting the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has intensified its operations, deploying seven teams to the site. As of Friday morning, 81 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage, according to NDRF Inspector Vinay Kumar.
Gujarat Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr. Mehul Shah said that more than 100 doctors had rushed to the hospital campus to support emergency response teams. “Unfortunately, we have lost four medical students and a doctor’s wife. But fortunately, we have saved more than 45 medical students in the hostel area,” Shah told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday to assess the situation firsthand. He visited the crash site and met with several of the injured at Ahmedabad Civic Hospital. The Prime Minister also chaired a high-level review meeting with top officials to coordinate the response.
International assistance has also begun to flow in. Investigation teams from the United States and the United Kingdom have been deployed to support India’s inquiry into the crash.