Ahmedabad plane crash: Data from black box of AI-171 downloaded, DG AIIB to lead investigation

The data from the black box of the ill-fated Air India flight AI-171 has been successfully downloaded at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Lab, and the memory module has been accessed, Ministry of Civil Aviation informed on June 25, adding that a multidisciplinary team led by DG AAIB will be conducting the investigations as per international norms.

"The Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely retrieved on June 24, and on 25 June, the memory module was successfully accessed and its data downloaded at the AAIB Lab. The 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 and prevent future occurrences," the Aviation Ministry said in an official statement.

"Following the unfortunate accident involving Air India Flight AI-171, the AAIB promptly initiated an investigation and constituted a multidisciplinary team on 13 June 2025, in line with prescribed norms. The team, constituted as per international protocol, is led by DG AAIB, and includes an aviation medicine specialist, an ATC officer, and representatives from National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which is government investigative agency from the state of manufacture and design, (USA), as required for such investigations," the ministry further added.

The black boxes - a flight data recorder, or FDR, and a cockpit voice recorder, or CVR - were reportedly damaged in the crash and there were questions over the recovery of usable data.