The Airline Crash investigation: What's happening now?
Air India Crash Black Box Retrieved, Families Wait for Critical Information
The black box from the ill-fated Air India Flight AI 171, which met a tragic end in Ahmedabad on June 12, has finally been recovered, offering a glimmer of hope to the investigative team. The victory comes at a hefty cost, though, as the boxes suffered damage during the impact and fall.
Analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is currently underway, but the complete picture is still shrouded in mystery. With the preliminary report expected in about three months, they will provide crucial clues about the final moments of the disaster.
In the meantime, the focus is intensifying on the aircraft's right engine, which underwent a replacement just three months prior to the crash. This Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, nearing its twelfth year, had undergone a detailed maintenance check in June 2023 and was due for another comprehensive inspection in December 2025. With the recent engine replacement and maintenance under heavy scrutiny, possible technical or procedural flaws that could have led to the catastrophe are being meticulously examined.
As for the tragic loss of life, the investigation is working diligently to identify the victims, though updates have been somewhat scarce. Given the devastating impact of the crash, the victim identification process usually relies on forensic and DNA analyses, all of which take time. Unfortunately, precise timelines from the authorities have yet to be disclosed.
With the unraveling of the mysteries encased in the black boxes and the progress made in the investigations, families are eagerly awaiting answers and hoping for closure. Moreover, important lessons learned from this tragedy could help prevent future disasters.
The damaged black box from Air India Flight AI 171, incidentally recovered in Ahmedabad, has raised questions within the aviation industry about the safety standards of their aircraft in relation to finance and maintenance. As the right engine on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which underwent a replacement just three months before the crash, is thoroughly investigated, both the aeronautical sector and regulators in India may need to reconsider industry practices for transportation safety.
