The team late Sunday recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and a part of the black box containing the digital flight data acquisition unit (DFDAU).

In aviation parlance, black box is a loose term used for two pieces of equipment - the digital cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder - that give crucial inputs to investigators on causes of air accidents.

One device digitally records all conversations inside the cockpit and those with the air traffic controllers. The other has the history of the aircraft's flight details, such as acceleration, engine thrust, airspeed, altitude, rudder position, which are also vital for crash probes.

The cockpit voice recorder of the crashed plane has been affected by fire but it is expected to yield the desired information, according to a DGCA statement.

Though the DFDAU, a parallel unit of the digital flight data recorder that records flight parameter for shorter duration has also been recovered, search for the latter is continuing, the statement said.

"Analysis of CVR and flight data will be conducted in the next fortnight. Similarly, analysis of records pertaining to the crash will take a couple of weeks," a probe official told IANS, citing the statement.

Flight IX 812 burst into flames after falling over a cliff early Saturday and most of the 158 victims, including 19 children and four infants, were burnt to death. The Boeing overshot the runway on landing at Bajpe airport, about 20 km from here.

All six crew members of the flight also perished in the disaster. Eight passengers survived and are being treated for their injuries in various hospitals in the city.

Police said 22 bodies are yet to be identified and DNA tests will be conducted on them. Forensic experts from Hyderabad have taken samples necessary for the DNA test from family members. Results of the tests will be known in about a week's tim

The computers of the cockpit of the gutted aircraft have been retrieved. However, it is still unclear as to whether the Black box has also been retrieved or not.

Sources who loaded the computers into the vehicles were reportedly saying that the Black box may also have been taken away. They expressed doubts that the all important equipment may well have been taken away along with other cockpit equipments that were found.

However, one aspect that still made them feel that the Black Box is yet to be found was that the Black Box is usually red/orange in colour and any equipment of that colour has not been seen being carried away. Official confirmation is expected to be recieved later in the evening.

Meanwhile, the cockpit equipments that have been retrieved are reported to be reasonably good condition and have not burnt adequately enough to make them useless.

Earlier updates on Saturday, May 22:

Mangalore, May 22: A week back it was celebrations for Mangaloreans as a new airport started operations, fulfilling a long pending demand.

The mood was one of sorrow Saturday after an Air India Express flying from Dubai crashed near the Mangalore airport killing 158 people.

Mangaloreans knew that flying into and out of their city was always scary as the airport is on a hilltop with deep ravines only metres away from the runway.

Kenjar village, just outside the new terminal, will take a long time to get over the trauma of witnessing the gory scenes of the burning plane and charred bodies pulled out of the Air India wreckage.

The plane with 160 passengers and six crew fell into the ravine after overshooting the runway on landing at the airport.

Dozens of villagers rushed to the spot to be of help, but leaping flames kept them away till the firemen reached the site.

Except for the tail of the Boeing 737-800, the aircraft was reduced to mangled, charred metal.

Dozens of people who were at the airport to receive relatives and friends also rushed to the disaster site.

Many burst into tears as they saw the mass of metal, leaving little hope of survivors.

S. Deepthi from Kenjar village who studies in Bangalore said: "It was horrendous to witness the tragedy. I had come home as colleges are closed for summer holidays. It will be difficult for me to get over the trauma."

At least 158 people were killed Saturday morning when an Air India Express Boeing 737 with 166 passengers and crew flying from Dubai overshot the runway while landing at the Mangalore airport and turned into a ball of fire as it crashed into a forested ravine, authorities and witnesses said.

The aircraft was coming down in clear visibility around 6 a.m. when the Serbian pilot overshot the runway at Bajpe, some 30 km from Mangalore, and desperately tried to take off, member of parliament Sadananda Gowda said. But the plane hit a radar pole and spun out of control.

In no time, it smashed into the ravine almost a kilometre away amid a deafening roar, breaking into pieces. Only eight people, an infant included, miraculously survived the disaster as they crawled out of the burning broken parts of the Boeing. Some of the injured are stated to be critical.

Air India Director Anup Srivastava announced in Mumbai that the plane was carrying 160 passengers, including four infants, and six crew members.

Air India Express is the low cost arm of Air India.

A grim looking Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had said earlier that "survivors were unlikely". "Except for half a dozen people who were rescued, the rest may not have survived." he said in Bangalore, the state capital, before leaving for the crash site. "It is a grave tragedy."

Most passengers were Indians, many returning home from Dubai where they worked.

Survivor Ummar Farooq said the plane seemed to be on course for landing.

"Soon after it touched the runway, I heard a sound and saw smoke quickly fill the plane. Soon there was fire and all hell broke loose," he said.

"A crack appeared on the plane's body where I was seated. I immediately jumped out. Two or three people seated behind me also jumped out. I am hurt in my knees and suffered burns on my hands and face. As I fled from the aircraft, flames engulfed it," he said.

The airport at Bajpe is in a hilly area and considered one of the most difficult airports to land and take off from. The area had been experiencing heavy rains for the last two days.

There was no immediate official word, however, why the the accident occurred. Air India's Srivastava said only an investigation would dig out the truth but most accounts blamed the pilot, identified as F. Glusica.

The pilot gave no distress signal before the crash, Mangalore airport officials said.

Villagers from the neighbourhood were among the first to rush to the accident site but the huge flames leaping into the sky kept them away.

Firemen and police personnel from the airport quickly began rescue operations, only to come across ghastly scenes of mangled bodies strewn over a large area. Some charred bodies still had the seat belts on.

About 25 ambulances and over 20 fire tenders were involved in the operation that lasted about four hours. Large crowds gathered at the site, many rushing all the way from the airport where they had been waiting for the plane's arrival.

As firemen doused the flames, policemen began taking out bodies from the wreckage, many burnt beyond recognition. Each body had to be taken up the ravine by hand before being transferred to ambulances.

One of the passengers escaped with injuries on his knee and a minor fracture of the spine and was warded at the Kasturba Medical College Hospital in Mangalore. "He is stable, he has been shifted to the ward, and he is with the family," doctor Vir Singh said. "We also got patients brought dead, totally charred."

The rescue operations were hit for an hour as a drizzle turned into heavy rains. "It is a tragic incident," Karnataka Home Minister V.S. Acharya said.

The Mangalore airport manager Peter Abrahim said there were initial difficulties in reaching the accident.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the loss of lives in the air crash at the Mangalore airport Saturday and ordered compensation of Rs.200,000 for the families of the dead and Rs.50,000 for the injured.

He also postponed an event scheduled at his official residence Saturday evening to celebrate his government's one year in office during its second tenure

Update at 10:25 am:

Mangalore, May 22: Umer Farooq, resident of Ullal, and Dr Sabrina have survived the mishap. They are undergoing treatment at AJ Hospital, Mangalore.

Update at 8:55 am:

Mangalore, May 22: Gopal Hosur, Western Range IGP, Naleen Kumar Kateel, MP, have visited the spot.

Veerappa Moily, Union Law Minister, Praful Patel, Union Civial Aviation Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister, are also expected to visit the spot. Speaking to a TV Channel, Dr V S Acharya, State Home Minister has expressed doubts that except the 6-8 people that have been rescued, all the rest could well be dead.

Meanwhile, those rescued have been rushed to the AJ Hospital in the city.

It is also being reported that the UPA government has cancelled its anniversary celebrations owing to the tragedy. All flights to Mangalore have been cancelled.

Earlier:

Mangalore, May 22: A mishap has been reported at the Bajpe Airport in Mangalore wherein an aircraft was left tottering in flames.

The Air India Express flight was on its way to Mangalore from Dubai and the mishap took place just before landing. The incident took place at around 6 am on Saturday, May 21. The gutted aircraft now lies in the Maravoor region near the Bajpe airport where efforts of rescuing people are on.

About 169 passengers were on board aircraft when the incident took place.

Heavy smoke continues to emit from the crashed aircraft. Fire services have rushed to the spot.

Four people have reportedly been rescued. As of now, there is no clear information as to how many have died. So far one body, that of a child has been found.

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