Ahmedabad, India – June 19, 2025
India’s investigation into the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash on June 12 has encountered a significant hurdle: the Boeing 787’s “black box” — comprising both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) — suffered extensive damage, likely due to the intense post-crash fire. As a result, Indian authorities are now considering sending the device to the United States for expert recovery and analysis ft.com+9ndtv.com+9economictimes.indiatimes.com+9.
🔍 What Happened:
Device Damage: Both recorders are burned and compromised, making domestic data extraction nearly impossible m.economictimes.com.
International Support: Plans are underway to send the devices to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, with Indian officials accompanying them to ensure protocol compliance ndtv.com.
Official Verdict Pending: Though sources confirm the likelihood of foreign analysis, the final decision will rest with the Indian government .
🧩 Why This Matters:
Uncovering the Truth: The FDR records critical flight parameters (altitude, speed, control inputs), while the CVR captures cockpit conversation and alarm signals. These are indispensable for understanding the chain of events leading to the crash ft.com+7ndtv.com+7thesun.co.uk+7.
Technical Limitations: India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) lab in Delhi, though newly established, lacks capabilities to handle severely damaged recorders. The NTSB lab is better equipped for such cases m.economictimes.com.
🛠️ The Data Recovery Process:
Chip Extraction: Technicians will carefully dismantle the recorder casing to retrieve the memory board.
Circuit Analysis: The integrity of the electronic components will be assessed to ensure safe reading of data m.economictimes.com.
Estimated Timeline: Depending on damage severity, data retrieval could take from two days to several months m.economictimes.com.
📋 Continuing the Investigation:
Multi‑Nation Cooperation: Following international norms, the U.K. is also expected to take part in the investigation due to British nationals aboard the flight ndtvprofit.com+4m.economictimes.com+4apnews.com+4.
Biases Scrutinised: Analysts are exploring causes such as engine thrust failure, flap configuration, landing gear issues and possible fuel contamination ndtvprofit.com+5m.economictimes.com+5thesun.co.uk+5.
Preliminary Report in 1 Month: The AAIB aims to publish early findings within about 30 days, with a full technical review expected within three months thesun.co.uk+3m.economictimes.com+3apnews.com+3.
Fleet Safety Measures: DGCA has already mandated thorough inspections and maintenance checks for all Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliners (33 in service) m.economictimes.com+8theguardian.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8.
📌 Key Facts at a Glance:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Crash Date & Location | June 12, 2025 – shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad |
| Aircraft | Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, registration VT‑ANB, ~11 years old |
| Casualties | 241 on board + 29 on ground; one survivor |
| Black Box Status | Both recorders damaged; likely to be sent to U.S. for analysis |
| Investigation Timeline | Preliminary: ~30 days; Final: ~3 months |
| International Collaborators | NTSB (US), AAIB (India), U.K. AAIB, Boeing, possible GE involvement |
FAQs :
Q1. What happened to Air India's black box in the 2025 crash?
A1. The black box, including the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder, was severely damaged in the crash and may need to be sent abroad for data retrieval.
Q2. Why is the Air India black box being sent overseas?
A2. India’s labs lack the capacity to recover data from severely burned recorders, so experts from the U.S. NTSB are likely to assist.
Q3. What data does the black box contain?
A3. The black box holds critical flight parameters like speed, altitude, and cockpit conversations, which are key to understanding the crash sequence.
Q4. When will the crash investigation report be released?
A4. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, with the full report due in about three months, depending on data recovery success.
Q5. Which agencies are involved in the investigation?
A5. India’s AAIB, the U.S. NTSB, the U.K.’s AAIB, and Boeing are part of the investigation team.
Published on 19th june
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