The black box from the Air India flight that crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad is damaged and may be flown to the United States for further analysis, sources say.
This Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport. Tragically, out of 242 people onboard, only one survived. The crash killed 33 people on the ground as the plane hit a medical college hostel.
The black box was found 28 hours after the crash. Despite the name, the black box is actually two devices—the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR). Both are painted bright orange to help with recovery after crashes.
What Went Wrong?
According to the Aviation Ministry’s timeline, the plane took off at 1:39 PM. Within seconds, it stalled below 600 feet. At 1:40 PM, a distress call was made. Then—radio silence. The aircraft crashed moments later.
Only one person survived— a British-Indian man seated in 11A.
Why the Black Box Matters
The CVR records cockpit audio—conversations, alarms, radio contact with Air Traffic Control. AI171’s CVR, from 2014, likely held only two hours of data (newer planes record up to 25 hours).
The FDR logs crucial flight parameters like airspeed, altitude, and flight controls. In modern aircraft like the Dreamliner, FDRs capture thousands of variables for over 25 hours.
But now, both recorders have sustained damage. That’s a big problem.
The US May Step In
Sources say the recorders may be sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C., if Indian experts can’t recover the data locally.
If that happens, Indian officials will accompany the devices to ensure security and transparency.
What Happens Next?
The final decision lies with India’s aviation authorities. If the black box cannot be read here, the US lab is one of the few globally equipped for such complex recovery efforts.
This investigation is critical. The data could reveal whether there was a technical fault, pilot error, or something worse.
The loss is massive. But answers are necessary—for families, for Air India, and for aviation safety.
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