In a significant development in the investigation into the Air India AI-171 crash, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has recovered a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the wreckage of the aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard.
“It’s a DVR, which we have recovered from the debris. The FSL team will come here soon,” an ATS official told reporters.
Unlike traditional Flight Data Recorders (FDR) or Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR), which record instrument data and cockpit conversations respectively, a DVR stores visual footage from onboard cameras. These video systems can offer additional insights into in-flight conditions and onboard activity, making them valuable for aviation investigations.
The AI-171 flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was bound for London Gatwick and crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport. The lone survivor is currently under treatment at a local hospital.
Following the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday and later chaired a review meeting at the airport with senior officials. Sharing a message on social media, he said:
“Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy.”
Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has begun DNA sampling of the victims to assist in identification, given the severity of the fire and destruction at the site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reviewed the situation with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, stating that the high temperature from the burning of nearly 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel left no chance of survival for most onboard. He noted that approximately 1,000 DNA tests have already been conducted as part of the identification process.
An official death toll will be released once the DNA verification process is completed.
