 "After a plane crash, the black box becomes the most important tool for investigators. Reuters")
As the probe into the Air India plane crash continues, India will be sending the black box of the doomed Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the United States for analysis. The recorder, which was found two days after the crash, sustained heavy external damage, making it impossible to extract data in India, a source close to the matter told The Economic Times.
The source mentioned that the data from the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) will be extracted in the Washington-based laboratory of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the findings will be shared with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). It is pertinent to note that under international rules, the state of occurrence has the responsibility of investigating a crash.
“While AAIB had established a laboratory at its headquarters in Delhi last year, it is yet to be properly equipped to extract data from recorders which have sustained heavy damage. The NTSB team will carry them to their lab under protection and supervision from Indian officials to ensure that proper protocols are followed,” a person involved in the process told ET.
UK to join the investigation
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch will also be part of the investigation, as there were 53 British citizens among those killed. The Air India aircraft bound for London from Ahmedabad crashed seconds after it took off, killing 241 people onboard, with just one survivor.
The plane hit the BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar, killing 33 people on the ground. It is pertinent to note that a black box comprises two units : the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). It is painted in a bright orange colour that is designed to survive the least impact during a crash. However, heavy damage is common due to the impact of the crash or the fire that follows.
Data extracted from an aircraft’s black boxes is important during an investigation to find the cause of the crash. The flight data recorder will give insight into multiple technical parameters such as timing, altitude and airspeed. The source told ET that the time to extract the data from the recorder could range from two days to months, depending on the extent of damage.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Since the recorder has been damaged, the chip will need to be extracted by removing the memory board so that there is no further damage to the data. The electronic circuit will also have to be assessed for damage,” the source told ET.
Meanwhile, authorities have also begun inspecting and carrying out additional maintenance and checks of Air India’s entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners to prevent any future incidents. Air India has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet. The plane that was involved in the crash was 12 years old.
Boeing aircraft have been plagued by safety issues in the past. There are currently around 1,200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide. However, it is pertinent to note that this was the first deadly crash a Dreamliner was involved in during its 16 years of operation.
With inputs from agencies.