LNP – Black box found at Air India crash site as families wait for answers

BBC – A black box has been found at the site of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India’s civil aviation minister said on Friday.

The flight data recorder was recovered within 28 hours by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed.

All but one of the 242 people on the London-bound flight died when it crashed into a residential area less than 60 seconds after take-off on Thursday. An official told the BBC that at least eight people on the ground were also killed.

“The [recovery of the black box] marks an important step forward in the investigation” and will “significantly aid the inquiry” into the disaster, Mr Kinjarapu said.

Planes usually carry two black boxes – small but tough electronic data recorders.

One records flight data, such as altitude and speed. The other records sound from the cockpit, so investigators can hear what the pilots are saying and listen for any unusual noises.

AAIB is leading the inquiry into the cause of the crash, helped by teams from the US and UK. Boeing’s chief executive, Kelly Ortberg, said the company was supporting the investigation.