NewKerala.com

Key Points

The AAIB and NTSB have begun extracting data from AI-171's black boxes to determine the cause of the fatal Ahmedabad crash. Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered and transported under strict security. A multidisciplinary team, including international experts, is analyzing the data to reconstruct the sequence of events. The findings will help enhance aviation safety measures to prevent future accidents.

Key Points: AAIB and NTSB Begin AI-171 Black Box Data Extraction After Ahmedabad Crash

  • AAIB and NTSB jointly extracting data from AI-171's black boxes
  • Investigation aims to reconstruct crash sequence and improve aviation safety
  • Multidisciplinary team includes aviation medicine and ATC experts
  • Black boxes recovered and transported under high-security protocols
2 min read

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau begins data extraction of AI-171 Black Box and Voice recorder

AAIB and NTSB teams start analyzing AI-171's black box and cockpit voice recorder to determine the cause of the Ahmedabad crash that killed 241 passengers.

"The memory module was successfully accessed and its data downloaded at the AAIB Lab. – Ministry of Civil Aviation"

New Delhi, June 26

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have begun the data extraction process of the Black Box and the Cockpit Voice recorder (CVR) of AI-171, which had crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the memory module was successfully accessed and its data downloaded at the AAIB Lab. The analysis of CVR and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data is underway

These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety and prevent future occurrences.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is the designated authority for such investigations, as India is a signatory to the ICAO Chicago Convention (1944) and investigates aircraft accidents per ICAO Annexe 13

Following the unfortunate accident involving Air India Flight AI-171, the AAIB promptly initiated an investigation and constituted a multidisciplinary team on June 13, in line with prescribed norms.

The team, constituted as per international protocol, is led by the DG AAIB and includes an aviation medicine specialist, an ATC officer, and representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which is the government investigative agency from the state of manufacture and design, (USA), as required for such investigations.

Both the Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) and Flight Data Recorders (FDR) were recovered--one from a rooftop of the building at the crash site on June 13, and the other from the debris on June 16, 2025. Standard Operating Procedures were issued for their secure handling, storage, and transportation. The devices were kept under 24/7 police protection and CCTV surveillance in Ahmedabad.

Subsequently, the black boxes were brought from Ahmedabad to Delhi by IAF aircraft with full security on June 24. The front black box arrived AAIB Lab, Delhi with the DG, AAIB at 22 p.m. on June 24.

The rear black box was brought by a second AAIB team and reached AAIB Lab, Delhi at 3:15 p.m. on June 24.

On the evening of June 24, the team led by DG AAIB, with technical members from AAIB and NTSB, began the data extraction process. The Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely retrieved. On June 25, the memory module was successfully accessed and its data downloaded at the AAIB Lab.

The analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway, and all actions have been taken in full compliance with domestic laws and international obligations in a time-bound manner.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is a very professional and thorough investigation process. Glad to see international cooperation with NTSB. Hope the findings lead to concrete safety improvements in our aviation sector. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
P
Priya M.
My heart goes out to all the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy 😢 The detailed timeline shows AAIB is working sincerely, but I hope they also consider human factors - were pilots overworked? Maintenance issues? These questions need answers.
A
Amit S.
Good to see proper protocol being followed with 24/7 security for black boxes. But why did it take 11 days to start data extraction? In such cases, time is crucial. Hope there was no data degradation.
S
Sunita R.
As an Ahmedabad resident who saw the crash site, I appreciate the transparency in this investigation. The IAF bringing boxes with full security shows how seriously India takes aviation safety. Hope the findings prevent future accidents.
V
Vikram J.
While the technical investigation is important, we must also look at systemic issues. Are our pilots getting enough rest? Are maintenance standards being compromised for profits? The DGCA needs to answer these questions.
N
Neha P.
The mention of ICAO standards is reassuring. India's aviation safety record has improved but there's still work to do. Hope this investigation leads to policy changes that make flying even safer for all of us.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50