The investigation into the Air India plane crash that killed more than 240 people is focusing on the engine, flaps and landing gear, a source said on Friday, as the aviation regulator ordered safety checks on the airline's entire Boeing-787 fleet.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board bound for Gatwick Airport south of London began losing height moments after take-off over a residential area of the western city of Ahmedabad and erupted in a huge fireball as it hit buildings below, CCTV footage showed.
Only one passenger survived and local media reported that as many as 24 people on the ground were also killed as the plane crashed onto a medical college hostel during the lunch hour. Reuters could not immediately verify the number.
It was the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade.
On Friday, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said that Air India and the Indian government were looking at several aspects of the crash including issues linked to its engine thrust, flaps and why the landing gear remained open as the plane took off and then came down within moments.
The probe is also looking at whether Air India was at fault, including on maintenance issues, the source said.
A possible bird-hit is not among the key areas of focus, the source said, adding that teams of anti-terror experts were part of the investigation process.
The government is considering whether it should ground the Boeing-787 fleet in the country during the probe, the source said. There was no immediate response to requests for comment on that from Air India, Boeing and the aviation ministry.
Air India has more than 30 Dreamliners that include the Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 versions. A source in Air India said there had been no communication so far from the government on the possible grounding.
The aviation ministry said that investigators and rescue workers had recovered the digital flight data recorder — one of the two black boxes on the plane — from the rooftop of the building on which the jet crashed.
There was no information on the cockpit voice recorder, the other black box, which is also crucial to the crash probe.
Earlier on Friday, rescue workers had finished combing the crash site and were searching for missing people and bodies in the buildings as well as for aircraft parts that could help explain why the plane crashed soon after taking off.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed by officials on the progress of rescue operations when he visited the crash site in his home state of Gujarat on Friday. Modi also met some of the injured being treated in hospital.
Meanwhile, dozens of anxious family members sat outside an Indian hospital on Friday waiting to collect bodies of loved ones killed in the Air India plane crash, as doctors worked to gather dental samples from the deceased and run identification checks.
In the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board bound for London took off from Ahmedabad on Thursday but crashed within about 30 seconds, erupting into a massive fireball.
Outside the B J Medical College in Ahmedabad, an elderly woman said four of her relatives including two children were onboard the flight, but declined to speak further to the media until the bodies were handed over.
"Can you give us the dead bodies? If not then we will not give interviews. We are so tired now," she said in frustration.
Other relatives sat patiently at the hospital where many have in recent hours given blood samples for DNA profiling at a dedicated centre for collection.
At the hospital, Jaishankar Pillai, a forensic dentist, told reporters the doctors were in the autopsy room until 4:30 am on Friday collecting dental samples, as "teeth can withstand the heat" and they hoped they could use them for identification.
"We have recorded the dental records of 135 charred victims... it's a very pathetic situation," said Pillai, adding he did not have data for how many bodies had been identified so far.
Officials outside the autopsy room said at least seven bodies had been handed over to their relatives after identification checks.
The state administration said in a statement 219 relatives of CRASH victims had come forward for DNA testing and blood samples, while many others were being contacted.
Pillai added that even a selfie photograph of the victim could help doctors match the gap between two teeth to run checks.
Scenes of distress played out beside the autopsy room. Daksha Patni was mourning the loss of her nephew, 14-year-old Akash Patni and wailing as she waited for his body. Akash had been near his family-run tea stall and was killed on the ground by the impact of the plane hitting a building. — Reuters
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
