Black Box recovered in Air India crash; Investigators close in on cause

On June 13, the black box of Air India Flight AI-171 was recovered from the rooftop of a hostel building at B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The device, which includes the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, is expected to provide crucial information on what went wrong moments after the aircraft took off.

The crash occurred on June 12, under a minute after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en-route to London Gatwick Airport. The plane crashed into a six-storey medical hostel in a densely populated residential area, killing 241 people on board and at least 33 people on the ground.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since ordered enhanced inspections of all Air India Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fitted with GEnx engines. These checks will now include thorough pre-flight assessments of engine thrust, flap positions, and landing gear systems. Flights are being allowed to continue under strict oversight.

A high-level safety committee has also been formed to review and update India’s aviation standard operating procedures. The panel will study current safety systems, identify gaps, and suggest improvements.

Investigators may initially focus on including possible engine underperformance, improper flap settings, and whether the landing gear remained extended during takeoff. Footage and eyewitness accounts have ruled out bird strike as a likely cause. Maintenance records and technical performance data are now under scrutiny.

Only one person survived the crash—a British national who was seated near an emergency exit and managed to escape through the flames with injuries. His brother, sitting across the aisle, did not survive. Rescue operations continue to be underway with workers retrieving body parts and working on victim identification. DNA testing is being used in many cases due to the condition of the remains.

Authorities have promised compensation for the victims’ families, and Air India has committed to full cooperation with the investigation. Air India’s leadership visited the crash site and hospitals to meet with families.

The tragedy sparked concern about the safety of Boeing 787 aircraft, with global aviation agencies monitoring developments closely. This is the first fatal crash, the 6th crash without fatalities this year and among the 100 that occurred since the aircraft’s commercial debut in 2011.

As investigators begin studying data from the recovered black box, preliminary findings are expected soon. These insights could provide answers to what caused the deadly crash and shape new aviation safety protocols.