2nd Black Box of Crashed Air India Flight Recovered in Ahmedabad, Probe Intensifies
In a major development in the investigation into the Air India AI171 crash, authorities on Monday confirmed the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR)—the second black box—from the wreckage site in Ahmedabad. The first black box, the flight data recorder (FDR), was recovered a day earlier. The deadly crash on June 12 killed at least 270 people, including 241 of the 242 passengers onboard.
The recovery of both black boxes is expected to play a critical role in determining what led to the devastating midair incident. The cockpit voice recorder captures in-flight conversations and sounds in the cockpit, while the flight data recorder stores critical flight parameters.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr. P K Mishra, confirmed the recovery after visiting the crash site on Sunday. He also met with survivors and inspected the condition of the injured at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Chairing a high-level review meeting at Circuit House, Mishra was briefed by officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Gujarat government on ongoing rescue and investigative efforts.
“Officials confirmed to Dr Mishra that the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been located and secured,” said a joint statement issued by AAIB and AAI.
The AAIB has formally launched a full-scale investigation into the crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff. A parallel probe is also being conducted by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), given that the aircraft involved was manufactured in the United States. International aviation protocols mandate cross-national collaboration in such incidents.
“This is a tragedy of immense proportions. Everyone is deeply affected. Our responsibility is to stand with the families and ensure thorough investigation and accountability,” Mishra said after his visit.
The AI171 flight was en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport when it reportedly encountered a critical failure just moments after takeoff. Eyewitnesses and initial survivor accounts suggested that the aircraft began to wobble and rapidly lost altitude around 30 seconds into flight. The plane eventually crashed near the Sabarmati riverbed.
Officials said that securing the black boxes would now allow investigators to reconstruct the sequence of events with greater clarity, potentially identifying mechanical issues, human errors, or external factors that may have contributed to the tragedy.
The crash has sparked widespread grief across India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister expressing condolences and promising financial aid of ₹5 lakh each to the families of those who died. The Centre has also formed a multidisciplinary committee to review standard operating procedures and safety protocols across all commercial flights.
This crash is one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India in recent decades. In 2010, an Air India Express flight crashed in Mangalore, killing 158 people, making it the last comparable commercial aviation tragedy on Indian soil.
As the investigation moves forward, authorities have urged the public and media to refrain from speculation until factual findings are released
