Investigators have recovered the black box from the Air India flight AI-171 that crashed in Ahmedabad last week. The plane, which was going to London Gatwick, lost engine power just 36 seconds after take-off and crashed into nearby houses. All 274 people, including 33 people on the ground, were killed.

The term black box refers to two devices: the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR). The CVR records what the pilots say and hear in the cockpit. The FDR collects technical data like speed, height, and direction.

These devices are very important because they help experts find out what happened before the crash. One of the most important things the CVR might reveal is what Captain Sumeet Sabharwal said in his final radio call. Last week, the Civil Aviation Ministry said his last words were “Mayday, mayday...”, which is a call for emergency help.

Some reports also say he said “no power... no thrust...”, meaning the engines may have failed. If the CVR confirms this, it will help investigators focus on possible engine problems as the reason for the crash. Now that both devices have been found, experts can go through the final moments of the flight and try to understand exactly why the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down.

What the Black Box may reveal about the crash?

Many theories are being shared about why the Air India flight AI-171 crashed just 36 seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad. Some people believe it was due to an electrical failure, bird strikes in both engines or problems with maintenance. Others think it may have involved issues with the landing gear or the plane’s wing flaps. But right now, there is no solid proof for any of these claims.With the black box now recovered, investigators hope to find clear answers.

When exactly was the emergency message sent?

The plane took off at 1:39 pm. Thirty-six seconds later, it crashed. Investigators want to know exactly when the pilot sent the 'Mayday' call. This will help them figure out how much time the pilots had to react. It will also help them understand when the problem began — was it before take-off and unnoticed, or did it suddenly happen right after?

What did the pilots say?

The CVR will reveal the exact words and tone used by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder during the short flight. It will also show what was said between the pilots and air traffic control (ATC).

Even though ATC officials have already been interviewed, the CVR may reveal details they don’t remember, including the mood in the cockpit and any background sounds, like engine noise. All of this will help build a clearer picture of the moments before the crash.

The black box also records background sounds inside the cockpit, like warning alarms, engine noise, or shaking of the controls. This helps investigators figure out what alerts the pilots got before the crash and how they reacted to them.

Along with that, the flight data recorder will show the aircraft’s key details like how fast it was flying, how it was, its direction, and how the engines were working. This allows investigators to rebuild the entire flight path step-by-step. By using information from both devices, experts will be able to understand exactly what went wrong, and more importantly, find ways to avoid similar accidents in the future.

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