India: Second Black Box of Boeing 787 Found After Deadly Crash

New light is expected to be shed on the causes of the aviation tragedy that occurred Thursday (June 12, 2025) in Ahmedabad, northwest India, as the second black box of Air India’s Boeing 787 passenger jet was located Sunday. The plane’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which captures all sounds and conversations in the cockpit, was recovered, according to a statement by Dr. P.K. Misra, a close aide to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The other black box, the quick access recorder (QAR), containing flight data parameters such as speed, position, altitude, and angle of attack, was retrieved Friday, the day after the crash that claimed at least 279 lives. Only one passenger, a British citizen of Indian origin, survived when the aircraft crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, according to the latest casualty count released Saturday. Thirty-eight people on the ground, mainly doctors, medical students, and their families, also lost their lives when the long-haul aircraft bound for London fell onto buildings in the city. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has begun a ‘detailed investigation,’ while the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting parallel research since the aircraft was American-made, Dr. Misra noted. Authorities responsible for investigations into air disasters in the U.S. and UK announced they are sending teams to assist their Indian counterparts. Experts have warned it is too early to speculate on the cause of the disaster, ranked among the worst in recent years. Videos circulating on social media show the plane taking off but failing to gain height before crashing and exploding. In response, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordered ‘preventive’ inspections of all Air India Boeing 787s, particularly focusing on engines, wingtips, and landing gear systems.