Air India collapse: What's the next step to find “full picture” as investigations? – National
From witnesses and videos to the actual wreckage itself, those who detect the crash of Air India Flight 171 on Thursday will try to include “full pictures” into what happened, although it may take some time to know the cause.
The investigation is already underway, with investigators gathering a black box of the plane – the flight data recorder – looking for more victims in the crash to kill at least 241 people on board, while more victims on the ground continue.
A man on the plane survived the crash.
“I think it’s like any investigation…you start with the simplest, most obvious studs and you dig accordingly,” said Nigel Waterhouse, a certification expert in aircraft in aeronautical engineering.
“They will try to get the full picture.”
Waterhouse said the first thing investigators need to do is to “interview witnesses as soon as possible.”
They will try to get information such as hearing smoke from the engine or loud noises, and asking if the plane is climbing, diving or other “obvious things people will notice.”
Videos of the plane and the airport will also be observed as it gives insight into what happened at that time.
Anthony Brickhouse, an American aviation safety consultant, told Global News Thursday that the investigation was intended to answer three questions.
“What happened, why, and most importantly, what can be done to prevent it from happening again,” he said.
Investigators will also look at the conditions for departure, including airports and weather, to understand the potential impact.
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Although the interview plays a key role, the inspection of aircraft and black boxes (flight data recorders and cockpit recorders) will be “very important” to determine the cause.
According to Brickhouse, data recorders can provide information about aircraft operation. Voice recorders record voice and sound, not only communicate between pilots and co-pilots, but also signs of stress in their voices.
“So the cockpit voice recorder will record sound and sound, and then we have what we call a digital flight data recorder that has the ability to record over 1,000 different parameters,” Brickhouse said.
“So you want to know anything about the operation of the aircraft, it might be on the flight data logger.”
Waterhouse notes that data and voice recorders can also work in collaboration, as investigators can listen to pilots and co-pilots’ co-pilot lists for takeoff and then cross-reference them to what the data recorder display controls are set up.
He added that examining the remnants of the aircraft will also help the detector, taking the wreckage away and analyzing to determine what happened during the impact.
“So the data recorder will provide clues to where to start looking, and then they will verify with the actual wreckage and anything you see from the aircraft system,” Waterhouse added.
How long does it take to answer?
Even with all the data and interviews, it is difficult to tell exactly what is happening about the cause of the crash.
If the reason for the flight is just a problem, the information may be known within two to three days, but if the process is less clear, delays may occur.
The United States also participated in the investigation with the National Transportation Safety Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and General Electric.
Waterhouse said loggers need to be sent to the U.S. for further inspections, which could result in logistical delays. In addition, discussions between Indian and American institutions may increase.
Although he pointed out that the device was built to withstand considerable impact, damage to the black box could also cause difficulties in investigating, so data is unlikely to be lost.
Although the data can be known in a short time, the process of publishing discovery may increase time as it may require discussion around things like liabilities and errors, which prompts legal dialogue.
Brickhouse told Global News that the work done should help identify the cause of the crash, which in turn helps prevent future events.
“I believe they have something that could lead to this accident, and the whole world will know that and make appropriate changes,” he said.
– Documents with the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
