Investigators Focus on Tail Section in Air India AI-171 Crash Probe

 Investigators examining the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI-171 have zeroed in on the aircraft’s tail section, which they believe may hold vital clues about what went wrong during the brief 26 seconds the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was airborne after departing from Ahmedabad airport.

Sources familiar with the investigation told The Indian Express that preliminary assessments have revealed evidence of a "contained electrical fire" within the empennage—the aircraft's tail assembly. The affected components were isolated, and the tail section, which separated from the fuselage during impact, remained largely untouched by the post-crash explosion and subsequent fuel fire.

Critical parts of the tail have been recovered and secured in Ahmedabad for detailed forensic analysis. “These components are central to understanding a potential electrical malfunction during lift-off,” a senior official stated.

The aft Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR), commonly referred to as the rear black box, was located on the rooftop of the BJ Medical College hostel mess. Investigators found it had sustained severe thermal damage, rendering standard data recovery methods ineffective. Upon inspection, its memory card was found extensively damaged.

In contrast, the forward EAFR—recovered from the burnt fuselage on June 16—was scorched but structurally intact. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) successfully extracted approximately 49 hours of flight data, including information from six prior flights. Two hours of cockpit voice recordings, including audio from the crash sequence, were also retrieved.

While the tail section had impacted the hostel building during the crash, investigators noted the structural damage was not significant enough to account for the failure of the black box. Authorities are currently assessing whether the fire originated mid-air due to an electrical fault or occurred as a consequence of the impact.

Additional components from the tail—such as the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), transducers, and rudder mechanisms—are undergoing close examination. The APU was recovered intact and has been transported for further technical assessment.

Investigators are also reviewing a potential technical anomaly flagged prior to the incident. A Pilot Defect Report filed after the aircraft’s previous flight (AI-423 from Delhi to Ahmedabad) indicated a “STAB POS XDCR” status alert, referring to the stabiliser position sensor located in the tail section. The issue was reportedly diagnosed and cleared by an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer before AI-171’s scheduled departure at 12:15 p.m. on June 12.

The AAIB’s investigation remains ongoing, with further updates expected as analysis of the recovered components progresses.