Authorities have successfully located the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the wreckage of the ill-fated Air India flight — a critical breakthrough in efforts to determine the reason behind last week’s fatal disaster.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was bound for London, crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad in western India last Thursday. The tragic incident claimed at least 270 lives, the majority of whom were passengers.

The CVR, an essential device in aircraft investigations, captures all sounds inside the cockpit — including crew conversations, warning signals, and environmental noises.

The flight data recorder (FDR), responsible for storing technical flight details such as speed, altitude, and engine status, was found earlier amid the scattered debris on Friday.

These two devices together — the CVR and FDR — make up what is known as the aircraft’s “black box.” Despite the misleading name, both devices are coated in bright orange with reflective markings to aid their discovery in crash sites. They are specifically engineered to withstand extreme conditions during accidents.

The investigation into the cause of the tragedy is being spearheaded by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with collaborative support from experts from the United States and the United Kingdom.

On Sunday, representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined the crash location.

“The AAIB has launched a detailed investigation, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a parallel probe under international protocols, since the aircraft is American-made,” a statement released on Sunday said.

Reports from Indian sources indicate that personnel from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have also inspected the crash area.

Additionally, a special committee established by the Indian government is set to hold its initial meeting on Monday to discuss potential causes of the crash.

According to All India Radio, this panel plans to deliver an initial report within three months and will likely recommend updated standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent such disasters in the future.

Meanwhile, families of the victims continue to struggle with grief and uncertainty as they await closure.

Wait for bodies deepens pain of families after Air India crash
The terrifying moment when Air India plane crashed into a canteen

In less than sixty seconds after lifting off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Flight AI171 collided with a staff housing block near BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital.

Tragically, only one of the 242 passengers and crew members aboard survived. Authorities are also working to confirm the total number of fatalities on the ground while carefully matching DNA to identify the deceased.

Medical teams confirmed over the weekend that 270 bodies had been retrieved from the crash location.

Dr. Rajnish Patel of Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital stated on Monday that more than 90 victims had been identified using DNA technology. Of these, 47 bodies have been handed over to their respective families.

One of the confirmed victims is Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat. His funeral is scheduled to take place on Monday, with full state honours in the city of Rajkot. Rupani had served in public office for over five decades.

Unfortunately, the wait remains agonising for many other relatives.

Officials mentioned that the identification work has been extremely slow and meticulous, owing to the severe burns on most of the bodies. This process is being carefully conducted in small, manageable groups.

Mistry Jignesh, who has been anxiously awaiting news about his niece outside the hospital, shared his frustration on Saturday. He was informed that the release of his niece’s remains might take longer than the initially promised timeframe of 72 hours, due to ongoing search and recovery efforts.

“When people are still missing, how can they complete the DNA process by tomorrow? What if my niece’s remains haven’t even been found? The wait is killing us,” he said.

US President Donald Trump has instructed federal authorities to expand operations for detaining and deporting migrants nationwide, even as demonstrations against his immigration agenda intensify.

Through a post shared on Truth Social, Trump urged government agencies to “do all in their power” to carry out “the single largest mass deportation programme in history”, specifically highlighting Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York as focus areas.

These cities have witnessed waves of protests in response to the migrant raids that began on 6 June.

In the face of these protests, Trump has encountered both legal opposition and public backlash, especially after deploying military personnel to control unrest.

Trump stated he had ordered the “entire administration to put every resource possible behind this effort”.

He also vowed to block entry into the US for “anyone who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States”.

Directing his message toward agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), he wrote: “you have my unwavering support. Now go, get the job done!”

This statement came shortly after fresh nationwide protests erupted against his policies.

On 14 June, the “No Kings” movement organized rallies in various cities spanning from Los Angeles to New York. These events happened to coincide with a military parade held in Washington DC to celebrate 250 years of the US Army, which also marked the president’s 79th birthday.

During a “No Kings” demonstration in Salt Lake City, Utah, one person was fatally shot.

Trump has also instructed immigration authorities to prioritize action in sanctuary cities—localities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement—a move that has heightened friction between state and federal officials during the ongoing protests.

Local leaders in these sanctuary cities continue to assert their right to safeguard undocumented immigrants.

This directive to increase deportations is in line with Trump’s campaign pledge to carry out the “largest deportation programme of criminals in the history of America”.

Surveys ahead of the 2024 election indicated broad public approval for this plan. However, since the initiative’s expansion, opposition demonstrations have become more frequent.

This recent order was issued just a day after the Trump administration told immigration officers to temporarily reduce enforcement activities at farms, hotels, restaurants, and meatpacking plants.

Severe flooding swept across northern West Virginia over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, while the search for four others who are still unaccounted for continues, according to authorities.

The fatalities were all reported within Ohio County, confirmed by Alex Lanfranconi, the spokesperson for West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, on Sunday evening.

Emergency officials from Wheeling-Ohio County stated that at least four residents remain missing.

A sudden burst of rainfall, measuring between 2.5 and 4 inches, drenched Ohio County within a span of just thirty minutes on Saturday night. This deluge prompted the National Weather Service to issue an uncommon flash flood emergency—the highest level of flood alert—due to the intense weather conditions.

More storm systems swept through northern West Virginia on Sunday, triggering an additional flash flood emergency, this time affecting parts of Marion County later in the day.

In response, Ohio and Marion Counties were both placed under a state of emergency on Sunday, allowing greater deployment of state resources, including the National Guard, to bolster local rescue operations.

Authorities reported evacuations and water rescues underway in Marion County on Sunday afternoon.

“As flash floods continue throughout North Central West Virginia, emergency officials are on the scene in Marion County at a partial apartment collapse and state resources are being coordinated to the region immediately,” Morrisey said in an X post Sunday evening.

“Please — stay off the roads,” he said.

Roughly two hours north in the city of Wheeling, officials were deeply engaged in search and rescue operations following Saturday night’s flooding, as confirmed during a briefing with state and local leaders on Sunday.

Parts of Ohio County “have major infrastructure damage to roads, bridges and highways,” delaying search and rescue efforts, said Lou Vargo, Director Wheeling-Ohio County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Residents displaced by the disaster have been directed to Elm Grove Elementary School in Wheeling for temporary shelter, Vargo said. He mentioned that no fewer than 12 people arrived there for safety on Saturday night.

Wheeling Fire Department Chief Jim Blazier noted that rescue resources were “quickly overwhelmed” by Saturday’s events. However, “this morning, we regrouped,” Blazier said, explaining that conditions on the ground had stabilized somewhat.

“We’re searching the banks, submerged vehicles, any debris that we find along the trail and so forth,” he said.

The threat of further rainfall persists as forecasts predict a continued stretch of wet weather across these flood-stricken regions. Rain and thunderstorms remain likely in West Virginia through at least Thursday, increasing the risk of worsening floods or fresh flash flood events.