MUMBAI, India — The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India has initiated an investigation into the Air India crash that occurred on Thursday, one of the most tragic aviation disasters the country has witnessed in decades.
Assistance is being provided by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and British investigators.
Authorities announced that the flight data recorder, colloquially known as the black box, was discovered on a rooftop at the crash site, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu took to social media platform X to express that this recovery would greatly assist the inquiry into the tragic incident.
The crash involved Air India flight 171, which was bound for London and had taken off from Ahmedabad, a northwestern city in India, with 242 passengers and crew on board.
Remarkably, the passenger seated in 11A, 40-year-old British citizen Vishwaskumar Ramesh, emerged as the sole survivor, walking out from the wreckage amidst the flames.
“This is a miracle,” Ramesh told The Hindu later from his hospital bed, detailing how he managed to push aside the emergency exit door to escape the tragic scene.
He had been traveling with his brother, who sadly did not survive the crash.
Authorities confirmed that they are conducting DNA testing to identify the remains of victims who were burnt beyond recognition.
Current reports indicate that only six victims have been able to be returned to their families as identification efforts continue.
In a precautionary response, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, mandated Air India to conduct additional safety checks on its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft.
The crash inflicted casualties beyond the passengers onboard as five medical students dining at a cafeteria were also among the dead.
The tragedy extended to local bystanders: a 15-year-old boy who had been delivering lunch to his mother and a grandmother who was delivering meals alongside her 2-year-old granddaughter were also killed.
The victims represented a cross-section of society, many of whom had aspirations abroad.
Among them were individuals such as a man who surprised his father during the Muslim holiday of Eid and another returning from his father’s funeral.
The passenger list also included a single mother heading back to her nursing job in the U.K, highlighting the personal stories behind the tragedy.
The repercussions of this accident weigh heavily on the families and the community, prompting reflections on the fragility of life.
Samir Desai, a colleague of one of the victims, emphasized this futility of life when discussing their late friend, a director at Lubi Pumps: “There’s no certainty about the next moment, what’s going to happen.”
As India strives to establish itself as a significant global transportation hub, the incident raises alarm over the country’s aviation safety protocols.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has embarked on an ambitious project to build airports across regional centers swiftly.
Data from state-run News On Air indicates that India has recently ascended to become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market.
Despite the rapid growth of the aviation industry, experts are voicing concerns about the safety culture in Indian aviation.
Amit Singh, an aviation safety expert and former pilot, pointed out the existing disconnect between regulators and operators, deeming it a critical issue.
“There’s a lack of trust,” Singh remarked, noting there were signs preceding such significant accidents.
He recounted a 2020 incident where a plane skidded off a runway, leading to 21 fatalities, emphasizing the pattern of minor incidents escalating into major accidents.
Another safety expert, Mohan Ranganathan, criticized many Indian airports for failing to comply with safety standards, particularly regarding obstacles near airports, and highlighted the proximity of the crashed plane to a building during takeoff.
Ranganathan pointed out that the six-story structure was dangerously close to the aircraft’s takeoff path—just 300 meters from the airport—representing a significant violation of safety regulations.
He condemned the country’s aviation regulatory body for issuing licenses without proper oversight.
“India has one of the weakest judiciaries regarding aviation safety,” he stated, expressing concern over the lax approach to aviation safety regulations in the country.
This tragic event reignites discussions on the need for rigorous safety measures to ensure public security, particularly in populous areas like Mumbai, which the expert described as a “time bomb” waiting to happen.
Officials from India’s civil aviation authority, along with Air India and the Tata Group, have been contacted for comments regarding these allegations but have yet to respond.
According to Indian media reports, Tata Group chairman N. Chandrasekaran promised complete transparency in the findings of the investigation.
Chandrasekaran noted that the company takes its responsibility to society earnestly, which includes being open about the crash and its aftermath.
In light of this tragedy, the Tata Group plans to provide more than $100,000 to each victim’s family and has committed to covering medical expenses for the injured.
Persistent problems have plagued Air India since it came under the ownership of the Tata Group in 2022, with issues leading to flight cancellations and diversions.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash has historically maintained a solid record as a long-haul flight aircraft, facing no major accidents until now.
However, an August 2023 emergency landing of an Indian Air 787 Dreamliner at Mumbai airport raised concerns over the safety of these aircraft.
Boeing has faced scrutiny over faults in its 737 Max line of planes, which led to two disastrous crashes causing the loss of over 300 lives in 2018 and 2019.
The company has stated its commitment to supporting the investigation spearheaded by Indian authorities, continuing the industry’s focus on enhancing aviation safety standards.
image source from：https://www.npr.org/2025/06/13/g-s1-72594/air-india-crash-investigation
