Investigators recovered a black box from the wreckage of Air India Flight 171 on 13 Jun 2025, just one day after the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, India.
The crash killed at least 265 people, including passengers, crew, and individuals on the ground.
Crash Details and Aftermath
The aircraft, carrying 242 people, issued a mayday call moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm local time (4:09 pm Singapore time) on 12 Jun 2025.
It failed to gain altitude, clipped buildings, and crashed into a hostel and canteen where students were having lunch.
The nose and front wheel of the plane landed on the canteen, while the tail remained lodged on the hostel’s second floor.
Location and Condition of the Black Box
Officials from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) announced that the flight data recorder, commonly known as a black box, was found on a rooftop near the crash site.
The device was retrieved within 28 hours of the accident.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated that the recovery of the black box would “significantly aid” the ongoing investigation.
Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were located on top of the medical college hostel struck by the aircraft.
One of the recorders was damaged but considered recoverable, reported ABC News.
The AAIB is leading the investigation, with support from US and UK teams, including representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and General Electric.
The black box is expected to provide crucial data, including engine performance, control settings and cockpit communications.
Experts say this information will help determine whether there was a loss of engine power or lift after takeoff, and clarify the pilots’ actions in the moments before the crash.
Investigation and Safety Response
The AAIB has begun analysing the black box data in India. US investigators are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad within days to assist with the technical examination of the recorders and the wreckage.
Air India reported that the flight carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members.
The crash has prompted India’s aviation regulator to order additional safety checks on all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft in the Air India fleet.
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