Kathmandu — The final transmission from Air India pilot Sumit Sabharwal to air traffic control (ATC) before the crash has been made public. In a short 4–5 second emergency message, Sabharwal is heard saying, “Mayday, mayday, mayday… I’m not getting thrust. Power is dropping, the aircraft isn’t climbing. We may not survive.”
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed on Friday that the black box from the Air India aircraft was recovered at the crash site in Ahmedabad. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India recovered the flight data recorder within 28 hours, Kinjarapu said. “Retrieving the black box is a major step in the investigation and will significantly assist in determining the cause of the disaster,” he added.
Over 270 Bodies Examined; Only One Survivor
According to Dainik Bhaskar, the death toll has now risen to 275. More than 270 postmortems have been completed at the Civil Hospital. DNA samples have been collected from 241 individuals, and seven bodies have been identified so far. Of the 242 people onboard the aircraft, 241 were killed, with only one passenger surviving. That lone survivor, a British citizen of Indian origin, is undergoing medical treatment.
The crash also killed 31 individuals at the BJ Medical College hostel, including five doctors, hospital staff, and other people present at the time. Over 60 doctors, students, employees, and others were reportedly inside the building when the aircraft struck.
Families to Arrive from London; Tata to Provide Compensation
A special flight from London is scheduled to land in Ahmedabad at 4 p.m. on Saturday, carrying relatives and family members of the victims. DNA samples from these individuals will be collected for further identification of the deceased.
The Gujarat branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, expressing gratitude for Tata’s announcement to provide INR 10 million (1 crore) in compensation to each victim’s family and support the restoration of the BJMC hostel. The IMA also expects further financial assistance for students and staff injured or killed in the hostel tragedy.
