NEW DELHI: Just a day after the devastating Air India disaster, investigators have retrieved one of the two critical flight data units — the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR)  from the top of a residential structure close to the accident zone. Authorities continue to scour the area in search of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), though its current whereabouts remain unknown.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with personnel from various other federal departments, reached the scene in Ahmedabad on Friday. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has officially opened a full-scale inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the catastrophe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday morning to evaluate the aftermath of the fatal crash. Accompanying him were Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. R. Naidu. The Prime Minister also made a stop at Civil Hospital, where he met with 40-year-old British-Indian citizen Vishwas Kumar Ramesh and others who were injured in the accident.
The incident involved an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating on a scheduled route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, carrying 242 passengers and crew. The aircraft went down shortly after departure on Thursday afternoon, crashing into the densely inhabited Meghani Nagar neighborhood just beyond the boundary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Dark, thick smoke rose from the crash site and could be seen from distant parts of the city.
The lone survivor is recovering, but most onboard lost their lives. Among the deceased were 53 individuals from the United Kingdom, seven from Portugal, and one Canadian national, alongside many Indian citizens. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, aged 68, en route to London to visit his daughter, was also among the victims.
The crash not only took a toll on those aboard the flight but also caused widespread tragedy on the ground. At least 24 civilians died in the crash impact, including four medical students residing in the B J Medical College hostel, which the plane struck directly during its descent.
In response, the Tata Group which owns Air India declared financial assistance of ₹1 crore for the next of kin of every victim. Under obligations outlined in the Montreal Convention, Air India is expected to pay out around ₹1.5 crore per affected family. As the aircraft was covered by insurance, the total compensation to bereaved families is likely to amount to approximately ₹360 crore.
Meanwhile, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has resumed limited operations, as emergency and investigative procedures continue.
