
Singh said the black box, which was found on Friday, would be crucial. It records crucial data and cockpit conversations. He explained that the data from the black box would be analysed to determine the exact cause of the crash.
"The black box is so strong that it can withstand an explosion also. Black box has two components one is the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) all the communications in the cockpit can be recorded and the second is the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFTR). In DFTR in which all the parameters of the aircraft are recorded. First, the data will be derived from the black box, and then it will be analysed. It just provides the data. Then, investigative agencies will analyse the data and come to conclusion," he said.
Meanwhile, Singh praised the reliability of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, noting that this is the first major incident involving the aircraft. He talked about the aircraft's good safety record, with only minor issues reported due to aging fleet.
"In the last 11 to 12 years, it has been in service and no such incident took place. Recently, there were reports that as the fleet is ageing, some minor issues are arising," he said.Further, Singh praised the the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu for their surveillance initiatives, ensuring that all parameters of the aircraft are checked twice to guarantee passenger safety.He said that the aviation industry learns from each accident and takes steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. He also explained the significance of the Mayday call, an international distress signal that prioritises emergency landings.
"All the parameters of the aircraft before releasing to service, they want to make sure that the passengers are safe and the aircraft is safe. All the systems are checked twice so that such incident is not repeated. This is a white body aircraft and used on long-haul routes. It is called a workhorse for Air India. So far, technical glitches have been very few in it," he further said.
"Whenever any accident happens in the aviation industry, we learn from it. We try to see that the mistake is not repeated. When we are announcing Mayday we are declaring emergency and help is required. ATC gives priority to such flights for landing or air space. In US and Europe aircraft are landed properly after mayday call," he added.
Singh said that there are more than 200 computers monitoring a single aircraft.
"Whatever has happened took place after the take off was initiated. It happened at very less height. The total flight was total 57 seconds and stalled after 26 second. The pilot had no option. The flight crashed into the nearest building," he added.
On Thursday, the Air India flight AI171 was en route to London from Ahmedabad when it crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport, ramming into a doctors' hostel of BJ Medical College in Gujarat's Ahmedabad.
There were 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Of the passengers, 241 died in the crash. The lone survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment.
(With inputs from ANI)