India Begins Decoding Black Box from Fatal Air India Dreamliner Crash
In one of the darkest chapters in India's aviation history, investigators have finally begun downloading data from the flight recorders—commonly referred to as "black boxes"—of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that tragically crashed on 12 June. This London-bound aircraft had taken off from Ahmedabad airport and came down less than a minute later, killing 270 people, including nearly all of the 242 passengers onboard and several on the ground. The only survivor, miraculously, is still recovering.
The recovery of these black boxes is a pivotal moment in the crash investigation. Both recorders—the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR)—were retrieved in separate operations. One was found on a rooftop amidst the chaos on 13 June, and the other was pulled from the wreckage on 16 June. Now, after nearly two weeks of waiting, Indian authorities, in cooperation with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), have accessed the crucial data they contain.
These flight recorders serve as silent witnesses to the aircraft’s final moments. The FDR logs critical technical parameters such as throttle settings, engine performance, flap positions, and even emergency system activations. Meanwhile, the CVR records all sounds within the cockpit, including pilot conversations and ambient noises that might hint at distress or mechanical failures.
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed that a team led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from the NTSB, is analyzing the retrieved data. The goal is to piece together the chain of events that led to the catastrophic crash. This analysis could take several weeks, as experts work meticulously to identify all contributing factors.
What’s raising eyebrows, however, is the time it took for the data to be accessed. Aviation specialists have pointed out that the nearly two-week delay in beginning the decoding process is somewhat unusual for an incident of this scale, sparking discussions around transparency and response efficiency.
Further complicating matters, India declined an offer from the UN aviation agency to provide an international observer to the investigation, reportedly denying entry to a UN-appointed investigator. While such offers are not standard protocol unless formally requested by the affected country, the refusal has added a layer of intrigue to an already high-profile probe.
As of now, officials are focusing on possible issues related to engine thrust and emergency power activation. Reports indicate the plane reached just 650 feet in altitude before issuing a mayday call and plunging into a densely populated neighbourhood. Both pilots—Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar—were highly experienced, making the cause of the crash all the more baffling.
The NTSB has praised the cooperation from Indian authorities, expressing hope that findings will be released swiftly to ensure public awareness and improve future aviation safety.
In the coming days, we expect a preliminary report to shed some light on this harrowing event. For now, families of the victims—and the world—wait anxiously for answers.
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