New Delhi, June 28
The Centre has granted Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) X category security cover to Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) chief GVG Yugandhar, as per sources.
According to sources, the X category security was extended to AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar, effective from June 16.
This move comes as the AAIB is spearheading the investigation into the Air India plane crash that claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members.
On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College, Gujarat's Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Lab in New Delhi is currently working intensively on analysing data retrieved from the black boxes of Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed in Ahmedabad.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely retrieved. On June 25, 2025, the memory module was successfully accessed, and its data was downloaded at the AAIB Lab.
Sources familiar with the process told ANI that an identical black box, referred to as a "golden chassis," was used to confirm whether data could be accurately recovered from the black boxes. One black box was recovered from the rooftop of a building at the crash site on June 13, and the other from the debris on June 16.
The investigation is being led by AAIB officials and includes technical members from the Indian Air Force (IAF), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States--the official investigative agency of the country where the aircraft was designed and manufactured.
The Director General of AAIB is heading the probe. An aviation medicine expert and an Air Traffic Control officer have also been included in the investigation team.
Sources confirmed that the NTSB team is currently stationed in Delhi and working closely with Indian authorities at the AAIB Lab. Officials from Boeing and GE are also present in the national capital to assist with the technical process.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I understand the need for security, I hope this doesn't mean the investigation will become less transparent. The families of 241 victims deserve to know the truth without any cover-ups. ðŸ™
Good decision by the government! The Ahmedabad crash was a national tragedy. The investigation team must be protected from any external pressures or threats. Jai Hind!
As an aviation enthusiast, I'm glad to see international cooperation in the investigation. The NTSB and Boeing's involvement will bring crucial technical expertise. Hope we get answers soon.
My cousin was on that flight... 😢 I just hope the security measures mean they're getting closer to finding out what really happened. The families need closure.
The golden chassis technique sounds interesting! Shows how advanced our investigation capabilities have become. Proud of our technical teams working round the clock on this.
Security is important but what about preventive measures? We need stricter aviation safety protocols to avoid such tragedies in the future. Prevention > Investigation!
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