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Indian authorities have confirmed that data from both black boxes recovered from the Air India Flight AI171 crash on 12 June has been successfully extracted and is now under analysis.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) announced Thursday afternoon that despite initial fears of severe damage, technicians were able to safely retrieve the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) memory modules. The breakthrough comes after days of uncertainty, with reports suggesting the government was considering sending the boxes to the United States for forensic recovery.
Black Boxes Located in Wreckage
One of the black boxes was discovered on the rooftop of a college hostel into which the Airbus A321 aircraft crashed during its approach to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The second was found among the main wreckage of the fuselage.
Both devices were transported to the AAIB’s central laboratory in New Delhi on Tuesday and the Crash Protection Module (CPM) and memory units were successfully extracted the same day, officials confirmed.
Analysis Underway
In a statement, the Indian government said:
“Analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway. These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety.”
The AAIB is working with experts to reconstruct the final moments of Flight AI171, which was carrying 178 people when it crashed, killing at least 39, including multiple British nationals.
Background
The June 12 crash has become one of the worst air disasters in India in recent years. Survivors described terrifying moments during final descent, and questions have since been raised about weather conditions, possible mechanical failure, or human error.
This development comes as relatives of victims continue to call for full transparency and accountability from both the airline and regulators.
What Happens Next
Investigators will now synchronise audio from the cockpit with flight telemetry data to determine what happened in the critical final minutes before the crash. A preliminary report is expected within weeks, with a final report due later this year.
