India Recovers Flight Recorder Data After Deadly Air India Crash
New Delhi – Indian investigators have retrieved data from both flight recorders of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad earlier this month, killing 270 people. The breakthrough, confirmed by India’s civil aviation ministry on Wednesday, marks a significant step in the ongoing probe into one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters in years.
The aircraft, operating as Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London, crashed less than a minute after takeoff on June 12. The plane went down in a residential area, destroying homes and killing nearly everyone on board. Only one passenger survived.
Investigators recovered both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) from the wreckage. One device was found on a rooftop, and the other in debris from the crash site. These Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders are critical in piecing together the flight’s final moments.
The FDR logs a wide range of aircraft parameters, including thrust settings, gear and flap positions, fuel flow, engine performance, and even emergency system activations. The CVR captures cockpit conversations and ambient sounds. Together, they offer a detailed reconstruction of the seconds before the crash.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is leading the analysis. The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that data extraction began this week.
“The analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway,” the ministry said in a statement. “These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety and prevent future occurrences.”
The NTSB has been closely involved in the probe, given the aircraft’s U.S. manufacturer, Boeing. Jennifer Homendy of the NTSB told Reuters that the agency hopes India will publish its findings without delay.
“For aviation and public safety, we hope they make their findings public swiftly,” Homendy said. She also praised the cooperation from India’s government and investigation team.
However, some aviation experts have questioned the time it took to access and begin analyzing the recorder data nearly two weeks after the crash. While the ministry has not commented on the delay, pressure is building for a prompt and transparent report.
Flight 171, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar, departed at 13:39 local time. Less than 40 seconds later, it issued a mayday call. That was its last known communication.
The plane crashed into a dense neighborhood in western Ahmedabad, igniting fires and causing massive structural damage. Emergency responders worked through the night to retrieve bodies and secure the area.
As the investigation progresses, families of victims continue to demand answers. The cause of the sudden loss of control remains unknown, but all eyes are now on the black box data for clarity.
