In the aftermath of the Air India Flight AI-171 accident, the Government of India has released an official update through the Press Information Bureau detailing the recovery and examination of the aircraft’s black boxes. Here’s a detailed report on what has happened until now.
Investigation Launched Under ICAO Guidelines
India, as a signatory to the ICAO Chicago Convention (1944), investigates aircraft accidents under the framework of ICAO Annex 13 and the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. In line with these obligations, the AAIB, India’s designated investigative authority promptly initiated an investigation into the accident.
Multidisciplinary Team Constituted on 13 June 2025
Immediately after the accident, on 13 June 2025, the AAIB constituted a multidisciplinary team to investigate the incident. The team is led by the Director General of AAIB and includes an aviation medicine specialist, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) officer, and representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States.
The involvement of NTSB representatives is in accordance with international requirements, as the United States is the country where the aircraft was manufactured and designed.
Recovery of Black Boxes
Both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered from the crash site in the days following the accident. One of the recorders was found on the rooftop of a building at the crash location on 13 June 2025, while the other was retrieved from the debris on 16 June 2025.
It is reported that Strict Standard Operating Procedures were followed for their secure handling, and the devices were kept under continuous police protection and CCTV surveillance in Ahmedabad.
Secure Transfer to Delhi
On 24 June 2025, both black boxes were transferred from Ahmedabad to Delhi on Indian Air Force aircraft, under full security arrangements. The front black box arrived at the AAIB Laboratory in Delhi at 2:00 PM, accompanied by the Director General of AAIB. The rear black box was brought by a second AAIB team and arrived at the laboratory at 5:15 PM on the same day.
Data Extraction and Technical Work
The data extraction process began on the evening of 24 June 2025. A team consisting of the DG AAIB and technical members from both AAIB and the NTSB initiated the work. The Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was successfully retrieved. On 25 June 2025, the memory module was accessed, and the data was downloaded at the AAIB Lab in Delhi.
Current Status and Objectives
The data from both the CVR and FDR is currently being analyzed. The primary objective of the investigation is to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the crash and to identify contributing factors. These insights will be used to enhance aviation safety and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
All actions so far have been conducted in full alignment with domestic laws and international obligations, and the investigation continues in a time-bound manner.
Source – PIB (Release ID: 2139785)
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