NEW DELHI, June 26, 2025 – India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in collaboration with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has started Air India Flight AI-171 Black Box analysis. The effort includes aviation medicine, ATC, and technical specialists from AAIB and NTSB.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting a possibility of overseas data retrieval and analysis, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed in an official statement that Air India AI-171 black box analysis is underway at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) lab in Delhi.
The black boxes, consisting of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), were recovered from the crash site in Ahmedabad. They were transported to Delhi on 24 June 2025 under Indian Air Force escort to ensure secure handling. Data extraction began the same evening at the AAIB facility.
The investigation is being led by the AAIB, in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) norms. The NTSB is participating in the process, as the aircraft was manufactured in the United States. This joint effort is standard practice in international aviation investigations and aims to ensure a comprehensive and transparent analysis.
Initial extraction from the crash-survivable memory unit of the front black box has already been completed, and analysis is ongoing. Investigators will use the data to reconstruct the final moments of Flight AI-171 and determine any technical or operational anomalies.
The Ministry emphasized that all procedures are being conducted as per global best practices, with full cooperation between Indian and international authorities. The results of the black box analysis are expected to play a critical role in understanding the cause of the accident and formulating preventive measures to enhance aviation safety.
Further updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
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