New Delhi– The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced Thursday that analysis of the black box data from the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad is currently underway. The data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) is being processed in strict compliance with domestic regulations and international aviation protocols.
In a statement, the Ministry confirmed that all actions involving the black boxes have followed established procedures and timelines. The investigation into the crash of Air India Flight AI-171, which occurred on June 12 and claimed the lives of nearly 270 people—including 241 passengers and crew—was promptly initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
A multidisciplinary team was constituted on June 13 under the leadership of the AAIB Director General. The team includes an aviation medicine expert, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) officer, and representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as required under international conventions, since the aircraft was manufactured in the United States.
Both black boxes were recovered—one from a rooftop near the crash site on June 13, and the other from aircraft debris on June 16. Standard operating procedures were implemented for their secure handling, transportation, and storage, with 24/7 police security and CCTV surveillance maintained in Ahmedabad.
On June 24, the black boxes were transported to New Delhi by Indian Air Force aircraft under tight security. The front black box arrived at the AAIB Laboratory at 2:00 p.m., followed by the rear box at 5:15 p.m. that same day.
Later that evening, a technical team from AAIB and NTSB began the data extraction process. The Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely removed, and on June 25, the memory module was successfully accessed and its data downloaded.
“The analysis of the CVR and FDR data is in progress,” said the Ministry. “These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the crash and to identify any contributing factors to strengthen aviation safety and help prevent future accidents.”
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is conducting a broader review of airline operations in India, has identified multiple operational flaws at certain airports. The review found repeated defects on some aircraft despite prior inspections, raising concerns about maintenance practices and safety oversight. (Source: IANS)
