We are finally one big step closer to knowing what brought down Air India 171, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed just 36 seconds after take-off on June 12. The crash killed 241 people onboard and 34 on the ground, leaving a nation in shock.
Now, in a major breakthrough, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has downloaded data from both black boxes. These include the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) — both were damaged but have yielded full data after intense recovery efforts.
Why This Matters
This data can reveal what really went wrong. Did both engines fail? Was there a total power loss? Or was it a larger system failure?
What we do know is this: the CVR will give insight into cockpit conversations, possible alarms, and distress calls. The FDR holds vital flight metrics like altitude, airspeed, and engine data. These will help reconstruct the final 36 seconds of the doomed flight.
How the Black Boxes Were Found
One black box was recovered from a hostel rooftop where the plane crashed. The other was found in the wreckage. Both were sent to the AAIB lab in Delhi on Tuesday — one arrived at 2:00 PM, the other at 5:15 PM. The data extraction started that day and was done by Wednesday.
This quick turnaround is being seen as a rare success in aviation crash investigations, especially given the physical damage to the devices.
Questions the Data Will Answer
- What exactly did Captain Sabharwal say?
We know he said “Mayday,” but did he also mention “no power… no thrust” as some reports claim? - When did he send that distress message?
Pinpointing the exact second will help investigators understand how much time the pilots had to respond. - Was the RAT (Ram Air Turbine) deployed?
This emergency device appears to be visible in some crash footage, possibly confirming a power or hydraulic failure.
These details will be key to understanding if engine failure or electronic systems brought down AI 171.
What Happens Next
A parliamentary committee will meet next week to grill officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, Air India, and Boeing. Topics will include aircraft maintenance, rising crash incidents, and safety protocols.
This comes after reports highlighted multiple shortcomings in the aviation sector. With one engine replaced just four months ago and the other inspected in April, serious questions will be asked.
This Is More Than Just a Crash
The Air India crash isn’t just a tragedy. It’s a wake-up call. Safety, maintenance, and quick accountability are not optional anymore. The recovered black box data is not just evidence — it’s a chance to fix a broken system before more lives are lost.
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