**Subject:** Summary of Response to Lok Sabha Question No. 847 Regarding Air India Flight AI171 Accident
**Date:** October 26, 2023
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 847, concerning the Air India flight AI171 accident on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad, which resulted in 241 fatalities.
**Key Findings:**
* **Black Box Recovery:** Both Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) of VT-ANB were recovered and transported to the Flight Recorder Laboratory of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in New Delhi.
* **Data Extraction:** Data from one of the Flight Recorders has been successfully downloaded.
* **Investigation:** An investigation has been ordered by the Director General, AAIB, under Rule 11 of the Aircraft Investigation of Accidents and Incidents Rules, 2017, to determine the probable causes and contributory factors leading to the accident.
* **Investigation Team:** The DG, AAIB, has appointed an investigation team under Rule 11(1) of the Aircraft Investigation of Accidents and Incidents Rules 2017.
* **Transparency:** A preliminary report on the accident was published by AAIB on July 12, 2025, and is available on their website: www.aaib.gov.in. The investigation is ongoing to determine the accident's causes and contributing factors.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India: Airlines whose flight AI 171 crashed.
AI171: Flight number of the Air India flight that crashed.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat: City in Gujarat where the Air India flight AI171 crashed after takeoff.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau: Agency responsible for investigating the accident of Air India flight AI171.
Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Aircraft Investigation of Accidents Incidents Rules, 2017: The rule under which investigation has been ordered by the Director General, AAIB.
Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders: Also called black boxes, these were recovered from VTANB.
VTANB: Aircraft whose Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders were recovered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 847
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
STATUS OF BLACK BOX OF AI-171
847. SMT RACHNA BANERJEE
SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that the two black boxes of Air India flight AI-
171, which crashed immediately after take-off on 12.6.2025 at
Ahmedabad killing 241 persons on board, have been recovered and
sent to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and if so,
the details thereof;
(b) whether it is also true that data extraction from both the black
boxes has been completed and analysis is currently underway and if
so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that the Aircraft Accident Investigation
Bureau is yet to constitute an investigation team, if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government would ensure transparency in the
investigation and publish the findings in the public domain; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (e): Both the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) of
VT-ANB were recovered and transported to Flight Recorder
Laboratory of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), UdaanBhawan, New Delhi. The data from one of the Flight Recorders has
been downloaded.;
;
An investigation has been ordered by the Director General, AAIB
under Rule 11 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents &
Incidents) Rules, 2017 to determine the probable
cause(s)/contributory factor(s) leading to the accident of Air India
flight AI-171 at Ahmedabad on 12.06.2025.;
;
The DG, AAIB, in exercise of power conferred under Rule 11 (1) of
the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2017
has appointed an investigation team.
;
A preliminary report on the accident has been published by AAIB on
12.07.2025 and is available on their website www.aaib.gov.in. The
investigation is in progress to determine the probable
cause(s)/contributory factor(s) leading to the accident.;
******