The Union Civil Aviation Ministry, on June 26 announced that measures are being taken to reconstruct the timeline of events that resulted in the deadly Air India plane crash on June 12 and determine the contributing factors.
The ministry reported that a multidisciplinary team, led by the head of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), is investigating the Ahmedabad airplane crash, and information is being retrieved from the aircraft’s black boxes.
The Air India flight heading to London crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad shortly after its departure from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 270 people, with 241 on board.
Efforts underway to retrieve data
The contents the black box’s memory module was downloaded at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau laboratory. The government states that information from both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR) is being analyzed. Both flight recorders from the plane have been retrieved.
The initial unit was discovered on the rooftop of the structure where the plane went down on June 13. The second unit was found among the wreckage of the plane on June 16. The black boxes were moved from Ahmedabad to Delhi on June 24 for examination.
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After the tragic incident concerning Air India Flight AI-171, the AAIB quickly began an investigation and formed a multidisciplinary team on June 13, 2025, as per established regulations, the statement noted.
“The team, formed according to international standards, is headed by DG AAIB and comprises an aviation medicine expert, an ATC officer, and representatives from the NTSB, the governmental investigative agency from the country of origin and design (USA), as required for such investigations,” the statement said.
What is a Black Box?
A black box is a compact device that captures data regarding an airplane throughout its journey. It aids in the inquiry of aviation incidents.
The black box serves as the main instrument for examining how these disasters happen. Although called a black box, it is actually orange in color. It is made of robust materials such as titanium or steel to safeguard its contents from harm during intense impact.
The black box is engineered to resist high temperatures, water immersion, and severe impact. It mainly includes two parts: the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The FDR records technical metrics like the aircraft’s speed, altitude, engine functionality, radar information, and control system activities.
