Investigation Underway After Air India Boeing 787 Crash in Ahmedabad

Recovery of Black Box and Safety Inspections Initiated

Ahmedabad/New Delhi, June 14: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) announced on Friday that the black box from the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which tragically crashed, has been located on the rooftop of the BJ Medical College residential quarters in Ahmedabad.

In response to the incident that resulted in the loss of 241 lives, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated a comprehensive safety inspection of Air India's fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners equipped with GEnx engines.

The aircraft was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it crashed into the residential area. An official confirmed that the black box was retrieved from the rooftop of the college's quarters.

“AAIB has mobilized its resources effectively. Over 40 personnel from the State government have joined the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) teams at the site. The DFDR (black box) has been successfully recovered,” the statement indicated.

The black box is a crucial device that records flight data, aiding in the investigation of aviation incidents.

The DGCA's enhanced inspection will encompass various system checks and a review of takeoff parameters for Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, which includes 26 Boeing 787-8s and 7 Boeing 787-9s.

Air India has been instructed to implement additional maintenance measures on its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft with immediate effect, in collaboration with the relevant DGCA regional offices.

Since January 15, the regulator has mandated several one-time checks on the Boeing 787 planes, including inspections of fuel parameter monitoring and related systems.

Additional inspections will cover the cabin air compressor, electronic engine control system tests, operational tests of the engine fuel-driven actuator, and oil system checks. The DGCA has also ordered a serviceability check of the hydraulic system and a review of takeoff parameters.

According to the DGCA's directive, flight control inspections must be included in transit inspections until further notice, along with power assurance checks to be completed within two weeks.

Furthermore, the DGCA has emphasized the need for prompt closure of maintenance actions based on the review of recurring issues over the past 15 days concerning the B787-8/9 aircraft. Reports of these inspections must be submitted to the regulator for evaluation.

The Boeing 787 aircraft that crashed on Thursday was powered by GEnx engines, manufactured by GE Aerospace, which has expressed its readiness to assist Air India and the ongoing investigation into the crash.

“We have activated our emergency response team and are prepared to support our customer and the investigation,” stated a spokesperson from GE Aerospace.