Indian civil aviation authorities are analysing the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the Emirates aircraft involved in a severe turbulence incident in Indian airspace on 25 April.

Officials from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have inspected the Boeing 777-200ER, registration A6-EML, which has returned to the United Arab Emirates, says the DGCA's director of air safety B.S. Rai.

"Investigations are still ongoing, and we have interviewed the aircraft's captain and crew," he adds. Analysis of the FDR could take up to 15 days, says Rai.

The aircraft experienced severe turbulence on a flight from Dubai to Kochi in an incident classified as serious by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority. Twenty passengers and three crew members suffered minor injuries.

Inspections of the aircraft showed "minor cracks" in its interior cabin, says Rai, adding that these parts will be replaced.

The aircraft, owned by Emirates, was built in 1998, says Flightglobal's ACAS database.

Emirates officials were uncontactable for comment.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news