On Thursday afternoon, the government reported that data retrieved from the black boxes involved in the Air India plane crash on June 12 has been fully downloaded and is now under analysis. The black boxes consist of a flight data recorder (FDR) and a cockpit voice recorder (CVR), both of which were compromised during the incident, leading to concerns regarding the feasibility of obtaining usable information. Last week, reports indicated that the government might send the FDR and CVR to the United States for detailed forensic analysis. However, a notable advancement was made when the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau successfully extracted both the Crash Protection Module (CPM) and the memory module, allowing for full data retrieval. According to the government, both black boxes—one located atop the college hostel where the plane crashed and the other within the crash debris—were taken to the AAIB laboratory in New Delhi on June 24, where data extraction was completed on the same day.
The government stated, "We are currently analyzing the CVR and FDR data. This work is aimed at reconstructing the series of events that led to the accident and recognizing any factors that contributed to improve aviation safety." This development indicates that a significant step has been taken toward deciphering the reasons behind the crash of AI 171, which involved an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that went down just 36 seconds after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of 241 individuals on board, alongside 34 fatalities on the ground.
Only one passenger, a British-Indian man situated in seat 11A, survived the tragic incident. The precise cause of the crash remains uncertain, but the leading theory—supported by audio and visual evidence that appears to show the activation of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—suggests either a simultaneous malfunction of both engines or a failure in the hydraulic or electronic systems. The airline has maintained that the ill-fated aircraft had undergone regular safety inspections and had its right engine replaced less than four months prior. The left engine was examined in April, according to their statement.
In a related development, a parliamentary committee is set to meet next week to address safety concerns within the civil aviation industry, particularly focusing on aircraft maintenance issues. Government officials, airline representatives, and Boeing executives have been called to appear and are anticipated to face challenging inquiries, as sources have hinted at "multiple shortcomings" within the aviation sector, with aircraft maintenance being a significant concern. The committee will also consider the increasing incidence of helicopter accidents.
