Air India crash black box under AAIB probe in India

The black box from Air India Flight AI 171, which tragically crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, remains in India and is currently being examined by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), confirmed Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu.

Minister Naidu refuted widespread media speculation that the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) would be sent abroad—particularly to the US—for analysis.

He emphasized the DECODING decision will rest with AAIB following a detailed assessment of technical needs, safety, and security considerations.

India’s state-of-the-art black box decoding facility at Udaan Bhawan in New Delhi, developed in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, is expected to handle most data retrieval.

However, officials have left open the possibility of sending recorders overseas if the damage proves beyond current capabilities.

AAIB has already made significant progress at the crash site. Within days of the accident, investigators—joined by experts from the US NTSB, FAA, and UK CAA—mapped debris, collected electronic and structural components, and secured fragile evidence ahead of monsoon rains.

The black boxes were recovered swiftly: the first on June 13 and a second set on June 16. These devices are central to unraveling the tragedy, as they record cockpit communications, engine performance, airspeed, altitude, and other critical flight parameters.

A preliminary investigation report is expected within 30 days, with the final findings due in about a year, following ICAO regulations.