In a swift and coordinated effort, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has successfully recovered and begun analysis of the black boxes from the ill-fated Air India Flight AI-171.
Following international aviation protocols, the investigation is being conducted under the purview of ICAO Annexe 13 and India’s Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.
The multidisciplinary team formed on June 13 includes a DG-led AAIB team, an aviation medicine expert, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) officer, and officials from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—in line with international obligations since the aircraft was U.S.-manufactured.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered from the Ahmedabad crash site between June 13 and 16. Both recorders were safeguarded under round-the-clock police and CCTV protection before being airlifted by the Indian Air Force to Delhi on June 24. The front black box arrived at 1400 hrs and the rear unit at 1715 hrs, delivered directly to the AAIB lab.
On the evening of June 24, technical experts initiated the data extraction process, successfully retrieving the Crash Protection Module (CPM). By June 25, data from the CVR’s memory module had been downloaded for analysis. Efforts to decode the Flight Data Recorder are also underway.
Officials note that this data will be vital in reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the crash and identifying causative factors. The investigation is being conducted in a time-bound and transparent manner, ensuring alignment with both domestic aviation law and global investigative standards.
As families await answers, the government’s commitment to aviation safety and international cooperation remains at the forefront of this high-priority probe.
