Why Air India Plane Crashed?

June 29, 2025: Investigators have recovered critical flight recorder data from the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash earlier this month, marking a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation, according to the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry.

The tragic incident, which occurred on June 12, involved a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed less than 40 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. The crash killed at least 270 people, making it one of India’s most catastrophic air disasters in recent memory. Only one passenger reportedly survived the crash.

Black Boxes Recovered from Rooftop and Debris

Authorities confirmed that both sets of Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs), commonly known as black boxes, were recovered from the wreckage on June 13 and June 16. One was found on a rooftop, while the other was pulled from the debris field left by the crash.

The EAFRs include two critical components: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). The FDR tracks essential flight parameters such as thrust, fuel flow, flap positions, and engine performance. The CVR captures pilot conversations, cockpit sounds, and radio transmissions.

Data Analysis Underway

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), accessed the data from both devices earlier this week. The ministry stated that the analysis of FDR and CVR data is ongoing and will help reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crash.

“These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety and prevent future occurrences,” the ministry said in a public statement.

Delayed Data Retrieval Raises Questions

While authorities have expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Indian and US teams, aviation experts have raised concerns over the two-week delay in extracting the data from the flight recorders. In many international investigations, black box data is typically downloaded within days of retrieval to expedite safety recommendations.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said she hopes India will share its findings promptly. “For aviation safety and public awareness, we hope that they will make their findings public swiftly,” she told Reuters at a recent aviation safety conference.

Final Moments of Flight 171

Preliminary details reveal that the flight was airborne for less than a minute before crashing into a densely populated area of Ahmedabad. The pilots — Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar — issued a mayday call moments after takeoff at 13:39 local time, but the transmission was cut short.

While early signs point to a catastrophic systems failure, no official cause has yet been released. Investigators are now focused on the flight recorder data to determine if mechanical issues, human error, or external factors contributed to the crash.

As the investigation continues, families of the victims and the wider aviation community await answers that may help prevent such a tragedy from recurring.