Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday confirmed that the black box from Air India Flight AI171, which tragically crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, is currently in India and undergoing examination by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The minister’s remarks were aimed at dispelling circulating reports suggesting the device had been sent abroad for analysis.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, crashed into the Atulyam Hostel complex of BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar, mere minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The devastating incident claimed the lives of 270 individuals, including 29 people on the ground. Of the 242 passengers and crew onboard, only one person survived.
The black box—recovered from the crash site on June 13—houses critical flight data and cockpit audio recordings, serving as a primary tool in reconstructing the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy. It contains two components: the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which captures in-flight conversations and ambient cockpit sounds, and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which logs technical parameters such as altitude, speed, and engine performance.
Addressing media speculation on the sidelines of the Helicopters & Small Aircraft Summit 2025 in Pune—an event jointly organized by FICCI and the Ministry of Civil Aviation—Naidu emphasized the importance of letting the AAIB complete its investigation without interference.
“The black box has not been sent abroad. It is very much in India and is currently being examined by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,” Naidu stated. “Speculation to the contrary is unfounded. Data retrieval is a highly technical process, and I will not speculate on a timeline for its conclusion. Let the AAIB conduct its investigation thoroughly and systematically.”
Naidu had earlier underscored that decoding the black box will be essential in establishing what transpired in the moments leading up to the crash.
In parallel, the central government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the incident comprehensively. Chaired by the Union Home Secretary, the panel includes senior representatives from both the central and state governments—none below the rank of Joint Secretary. The committee has been granted full access to key materials including flight data, cockpit voice recordings, air traffic control logs, maintenance records, and witness testimonies.
According to a directive issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the investigative panel is expected to submit its report within a three-month timeframe.
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