In a major breakthrough in the investigation of the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash, officials have recovered one of the aircraft’s two black boxes. The crash occurred on June 12, 2025, when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London, went down shortly after takeoff.
The black box, which plays a crucial role in uncovering the exact cause of aviation accidents, was located during a search operation early Friday morning at the crash site. Authorities have confirmed that either the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) or the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) has been recovered, though the specific unit has not yet been disclosed.
The recovered device will provide critical information, including the technical status of the aircraft in the moments leading up to the crash and communications between the pilots and air traffic control. This data is expected to offer insight into what triggered the deadly incident that claimed the lives of 241 passengers.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of India is leading the inquiry, in collaboration with international agencies including the UK AAIB, the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and GE Aerospace. Search operations continue at the site to recover the second black box, which would complete the crucial flight data set.
The recovered black box has been transported to Delhi for analysis. Experts will examine the data using established aviation investigation protocols to reconstruct the final moments of the flight. Preliminary findings from the investigation are expected to be made public in the coming weeks.