What Is A Black Box Holds That Key To Ahmedabad Plane Crash Investigation?
How can the black box reveal the cause behind the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12? What can investigators hope to learn from the flight data recorders? Read Here.
As the nation reels from the tragic Air India crash near Ahmedabad on June 12, attention has turned to a small but vital piece of technology — the plane's black box. This device, officially known as the 'flight data recorder' and 'cockpit voice recorder', is expected to provide crucial answers about what led to one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory. One of the two black boxes on the Ahmedabad-London Air India flight has been found, and this could provide crucial details about the disaster.
What Happened In Ahmedabad?
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed just minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, carrying 242 people, plummeted from an altitude of only 625 feet and exploded into flames after striking a hostel at a medical college, claiming at least 265 lives.
As rescue teams worked through the wreckage, investigators immediately began the search for the black box — an essential step in piecing together the final moments of the ill-fated flight.
Why Is The Black Box So Important?
Despite its name, the black box is actually a bright orange or yellow device, designed to be easily visible amid debris. Its rugged construction allows it to withstand extreme impacts, fire, and water pressure, ensuring that vital data survives even the most catastrophic crashes. The black box houses two critical recorders:
- Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): This captures the last two hours of cockpit audio, including conversations between pilots, radio transmissions, alarms, and ambient sounds.
- Flight Data Recorder (FDR): Logs up to 25 hours of technical flight information, such as engine performance, speed, altitude, control surface positions, and system alerts.
Together, these devices offer a comprehensive timeline of events, helping investigators determine whether the crash was caused by a mechanical failure, human error, bird strike, or another unforeseen event.
How Does The Black Box Work?
The black box is engineered to survive the unimaginable. Its core, known as the Crash Survivable Memory Unit, is encased in stainless steel or titanium and can withstand forces up to 3,400 times gravity and temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. An underwater locator beacon emits signals for up to 30 days, aiding recovery teams even if the device is submerged.
Once recovered, the black box is sent to specialised laboratories, where experts extract and analyse the data. By synchronising voice recordings with flight parameters, investigators can reconstruct the sequence of events, assess pilot responses, and identify any technical anomalies. Initial findings often emerge within 24 hours, but a full analysis can take weeks, especially if the device is damaged.
A History of Answers And Hope
The black box has played a pivotal role in unravelling the causes of past aviation tragedies — from the 2020 Air India Kozhikode plane crash to the Germanwings disaster in 2015. Its invention in the 1950s by Australian scientist David Warren revolutionised air safety, making it possible to learn from each incident and prevent future occurrences.
The recovery of the Air India AI-171 has raised hopes of determining the cause of the crash and preventing such incidents in the future.
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