Ahmedabad, Air India crash– In a critical step forward in one of India’s deadliest aviation tragedies, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed that investigators have successfully retrieved data from both flight recorders — often referred to as “black boxes” — of the Air India Flight 171 crash. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on 12 June, moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing at least 270 people.
The aircraft was airborne for less than 40 seconds before issuing a mayday call and plummeting into a residential neighborhood, becoming India’s most catastrophic air disaster in recent memory. Investigators recovered the two Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) — the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) — on 13 and 16 June.
According to a report by BBC News, the flight recorders were found amid the wreckage and on a nearby rooftop. On Wednesday, Indian aviation authorities accessed the data with technical support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
What the Recorders Could Reveal
The FDR tracks over 80 critical parameters, including engine thrust, fuel flow, control surfaces, flap positions, and gear lever movements, while the CVR records ambient cockpit audio, pilot transmissions, and emergency alarms. Together, they provide investigators with a precise reconstruction of the aircraft’s final seconds.
“The analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway. These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement. The data is being jointly reviewed by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the NTSB.
International Cooperation and Transparency
Speaking to Reuters, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said, “We’ve had excellent cooperation from the Indian government and the AAIB. We hope that findings will be made public swiftly for the sake of transparency and aviation safety.”
The federal investigation is expected to take weeks, if not months. However, the relatively quick access to the black box data marks a rare instance of efficient coordination in high-profile international crash probes.
Controversy Over Initial Delays
Despite the progress, questions have emerged over why it took nearly two weeks after the crash to begin data retrieval. Aviation experts described the delay as unusual, with many wondering whether technical, bureaucratic, or political challenges may have played a role.
Air India Flight AI171, operated by two senior pilots — Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar — was en route to London Gatwick when it issued its final mayday call. Only one of the 242 passengers on board survived, making the crash one of the worst involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Next Steps in the Investigation
As the analysis continues, Indian authorities face mounting pressure to uncover what caused the aircraft to malfunction so soon after departure. Mechanical failure, software issues, and possible human error are all under investigation.
In the meantime, both the Indian government and Boeing are facing global scrutiny, especially in the wake of recent manufacturing and safety concerns involving the 787 series.
Meanwhile, loved ones of the victims are still awaiting closure. “We want answers — and accountability,” said Arvind Patel, who lost his wife and daughter in the tragedy.
Authorities hope the black box data will provide critical clues that could prevent such tragedies in the future.
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Source: BBC News
