Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the Air India flight that crashed last week, killing at least 270 people shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The discovery marks a key step in the ongoing efforts to determine what led to the crash of the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

The cockpit voice recorder captures audio from inside the cockpit, including conversations, alarms, and other sounds, and is used alongside the flight data recorder, which was found on Friday. Together, the two devices, often called the black box, are essential to piecing together the plane’s final moments.

“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.

Officials from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration have also visited the crash site. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the probe, with help from US and UK teams.

A high-level committee appointed by the Indian government will hold its first meeting on Monday. According to All India Radio, it is expected to give a preliminary report in three months and suggest new safety procedures to prevent future crashes.

The AI171 flight crashed into a doctors’ accommodation block at BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital less than a minute after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Only one of the 242 people onboard survived.

Authorities are also trying to confirm the number of people who died on the ground, while working to identify bodies recovered from the debris.

Over the weekend, 270 bodies were recovered, according to Dr Rajnish Patel of Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital. “More than 90 victims have been identified through DNA matching,” he said, adding that 47 have been handed over to their families.

Among the dead is former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who will be buried in Rajkot on Monday with full state honours.

Many families, however, are still waiting. Officials say the condition of the bodies has made identification slow. Some remains are badly burned and can only be matched through DNA, a process taking place in phases.

Mistry Jignesh, who is awaiting confirmation about his niece, said, “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.”