Crashed Aircraft's Black Box Found; AI Announces Compensation
Investigators on Sunday in Mangalore recovered the 'Black Box' and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the wreckage of the ill-fated Air India Express which are expected to provide vital clues about the cause of
Investigators on Sunday in Mangalore recovered the 'Black Box' and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the wreckage of the ill-fated Air India Express which are expected to provide vital clues about the cause of the Saturday's crash that left 158 people dead.
Top Civil Aviation Ministry officials said the Digital Flight Data Recorder or the Black Box and the CVR, which record cockpit conversation and all technical details, have been traced from the debris of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which overshot the runway and burst into flames after plunging into a ravine.
Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav announced an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the victims, above 12 years of age, Rs five lakh for those below 12 years and Rs two lakh for those injured.
"This will be over and above the relief of Rs two lakh to the families of each victim announced by the Prime Minister," he told reporters here.
He said while 128 bodies have been identified and handed over the families, 12 were yet to be identified. Post mortem was being carried out on 18 bodies.
Teams, probing the worst air tragedy in the country in a decade, continued sifting through the wreckage to find all material required for the investigation being carried out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The Black Box will be brought to Delhi on Monday where it will be examined by Air Safety Directorate of the DGCA to ascertain what went wrong, official sources said.
Experts of the US Federal Aviation Authority, Boeing and air safety firm Kenyon will assist in deciphering the Black Box and the CVR.
A forensic team from Hyderabad carried out DNA tests on the bodies that have been charred beyond recognition.
158 people, including six crew, were killed in India's worst air disaster in a decade when Air India's budget carrier's flight IX-812 from Dubai crashed at the Bajpe airport yesterday morning after overshooting the 8,000 feet runway. Eight persons had a miraculous escape.
Meanwhile, Air India on Sunday announced an interim compensation for the victims of the air crash, including Rs ten lakh for the family of those above 12 years of age, even as it handed over 128 bodies to the kin of the victims.
Addressing a press conference a day after the tragedy that claimed 158 lives, Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav said they were in talks with insurance companies, including Reliance Insurance and General Insurance Company, on payment of compensation.
"We are announcing an interim compensation. We will give them money immediately," he said. Rs 10 lakh will be given to the kin of the deceased who are above 12 years of age and Rs five lakh to the family of those below. For the injured, the Air India will pay Rs two lakh as interim compensation.
"This is over and above the compensation announced by the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) and the state government," Jadhav said. He said 128 bodies have been identified and handed over to relatives. "Eighteen more bodies have been identified and the post mortem are in progress. Twelve bodies have not been identified as yet," Jadhav said.
On questions about recovery of the black box (flight data recorder) and the cockpit voice recorder, he said as per his information, the black box has not been recovered.
Urging people and media not to speculate on the reasons for the crash, Jadhav said speculations would harm the interests of the victims. "It was an international flight. It has international ramifications. Speculations will will hurt the interests of the passengers," Jadhav said. PTI