The second black box from the wreckage of Air India Flight AI171, which crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, has been recovered, marking a key development in the ongoing investigation.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 passengers onboard and at least 40 people on the ground.
Officials have confirmed the recovery of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), following the earlier retrieval of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR). These devices are critical to understanding the sequence of events leading to the crash and may help determine whether it was caused by technical failure, human error, or other factors.
P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited the crash site and met with injured survivors. He chaired a review meeting with officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and other agencies, reaffirming the government’s support for the victims’ families and its commitment to a thorough investigation.
The AAIB is conducting the main inquiry, supported by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, as the aircraft was American-made. Preliminary concerns include possible engine or thrust-related issues during takeoff.
In response, Indian aviation authorities have initiated enhanced checks on all similar aircraft in operation. Data from the black boxes is expected to be pivotal in determining the cause of the crash and shaping future safety protocols