NEW DELHI: The black box data from the Air India Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12 has been successfully downloaded and is currently being analysed at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) lab, the government said on Thursday. Preliminary insights into the cause of the crash are expected within the next 7 to 10 days.
In a significant departure from previous procedures, the data is being examined locally, expediting the investigation. Instead of the earlier six-month estimate, sources now suggest the final report may be ready within a month.
The civil aviation ministry confirmed that the crash-protection module of the forward black box was safely retrieved, and its memory module accessed on Wednesday. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered on June 13, a day after the crash, while the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was found three days later amid the wreckage.
Earlier, there were plans to send the black boxes to the U.S. for analysis, particularly because this marks the first-ever crash involving a Dreamliner aircraft. However, on the advice of top government officials, the decision was made to carry out the analysis at AAIB’s own lab — a first for a major commercial aircraft accident on Indian soil.
“The analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway. These efforts are focused on reconstructing the events that led to the accident, identifying contributing factors, and enhancing aviation safety to prevent similar incidents in the future,” an official statement said. The government assured that all procedures were being followed in compliance with domestic laws and international aviation protocols.
A senior official highlighted the significance of the move, saying, “This is the first instance where crash data from an aircraft that went down in Indian territory is being processed entirely within India. The AAIB lab is fully compliant with international standards, enabling faster, more autonomous investigations.”
Over 20 U.S. experts from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) — the agency responsible for investigating aircraft manufactured in the U.S. — arrived in Ahmedabad on June 13 and are currently in Delhi working with Indian investigators to examine the data.
Delay in Probe Team Disclosure Raises Questions
The government’s delay in disclosing details of the investigation team — nearly two weeks after the crash — has sparked scrutiny. However, the official statement defended the process, saying that the AAIB had initiated an investigation promptly after the incident and constituted a multidisciplinary team on June 13, as per standard international practice.
“The team, led by AAIB Director General G.V.G. Yugandhar, includes an aviation medicine specialist, an air traffic control (ATC) officer, and representatives from the NTSB, as required when the aircraft involved originates from the U.S.,” the statement read. The names of other team members have not yet been released publicly.
The investigation into flight AI-171 — which crashed just minutes after take-off — is being closely monitored both in India and abroad, given the aircraft’s make and the international cooperation involved. The swift retrieval and analysis of the black box data may help authorities determine the root cause and issue safety recommendations much sooner than usual.
