Crashed aircraft’s black box yet to be found: Air India (Lead, changing dateline)

MUMBAI - Nearly 30 hours after the Mangalore air accident, investigators have yet to recover the ill-fated Boeing 737-800 aircraft’s black box from the debris, an Air India official said here Sunday.

“Efforts are on to retrieve the black box which would throw light into the accident for the investigators,” said AI General Manager Harpreet A.D. Singh, who is currently the emergency co-ordinator.

She told mediapersons that the AI’s top priority was to coordinate relief measures for the families of the victims, complete the identification process and hand over the bodies.

With the help of the central government, three-days’ interim visas will be issued to the relatives coming from abroad to claim the bodies of kin who perished in the air accident, Singh said.

So far, AI has identified and handed over bodies of 87 victims to their relatives and the process to identify the rest with the help of a forensic team is underway, she added.

In view of the massive tragedy that struck the airline, top officials have worked round the clock to ensure that the survivors and victims get all possible help and assistance.

AI chairman-cum-managing director Arvind Jadhav has been at the site of the crash, visiting the hospitals, co-ordinating the relief and support measures, along with officials from multiple agencies and consoling relatives of victims.

Meanwhile, the bodies of Mumbai-based co-pilot Capt. H.S. Ahluwalia and Thane’s airhostess Tejal Kamulkar have been identified.

Tejal’s body is expected to reach Mumbai later Sunday and shall be taken to her home in Dombivli town in Thane district for the last rites, a family source said.

AI will also operate additional special flights to ferry the families of the victims to Mangalore, complete the relevant formalities and other requirements.

Air India Express Boeing 737-800 Dubai-Mangalore flight IX-812 met with an accident shortly after landing at Mangalore Airport Saturday morning.

There were 160 passengers and six crew members on board. Of these, 158 lost their lives and eight passengers had a miraculous escape.

Of the eight survivors, one remains to be identified so far.