India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said in a statement it has recovered the second digital flight data recorder, or the black box, of the crashed Air India plane from a rooftop near the crash site in Ahmedabad. It said the bureau has begun its work with “full force.” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post that the black box recovery marks an important step forward in the investigation.

Separately, the country’s civil aviation regulator issued an order directing Air India to perform additional maintenance and enhanced safety inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric’s GEnx engines. The key inspections, according to the order, include fuel parameters, cabin air compressor, engine control system, hydraulic system, and a review of takeoff parameters.

Investigators searched the site of one of India’s worst aviation disasters and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the lone surviving passenger on Friday, a day after the flight fell from the sky and killed 241 people on board and several people on the ground. The first black box was found several hours earlier, with the second early on Friday afternoon.

DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies, with more victims expected to be found in the search at the crash site. There was no information on whether the black boxes – the flight data and cockpit voice recorders – had been recovered.

The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Mr Modi’s home state.

Posting on social media, he said: “We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words.

“We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come.”

The lone survivor, British man Viswashkumar Ramesh, was filmed meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to the government hospital in the city, in the west of the country.

Mr Ramesh told India’s national broadcaster he still struggles to believe he survived the crash.

He said the aircraft appeared to become stuck immediately after takeoff, with the lights coming on just before it accelerated.

However, it failed to gain proper altitude before plummeting into the ground.

He explained that the section of the plane he was seated in landed on the ground floor of a building, creating just enough space for him to escape.

After the door broke open, he unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the wreckage.

He said: “When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive.”

Investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and General Electric are expected to assist the Indian probe.

Cranfield University expert Professor Graham Braithwaite said the goal of the investigation would be to prevent future tragedies.

He explained: “The multinational, multidisciplinary team will work together and can also involve specialists from the manufacturer or operator, but under very strict controls to ensure the independence of the investigation.”

DNA testing is under way to identify victims, with grieving families gathered at Ahmedabad’s Civil hospital.

Doctors confirmed the bodies of four medical students killed on the ground have been returned to their families, while at least four others remain in critical condition.

What is meant by a black box?

In aviation, a “black box” refers to two critical flight recorders: the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR).

These devices capture key technical data and cockpit conversations, providing investigators with vital clues about what happened in the moments leading up to a crash.

Analysing black box data is essential for understanding the cause of an accident and improving future flight safety.