**Summary:**
Following the Air India Flight AI171 accident, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the designated authority for aircraft accident investigations in India, initiated an investigation on June 13, 2025. This action aligns with India's obligations under the ICAO Chicago Convention 1944 and the Aircraft Investigation of Accidents and Incidents Rules, 2017. A multidisciplinary team, led by the Director-General (DG) of AAIB, was formed, including specialists in aviation medicine, air traffic control (ATC), and representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States, the state of manufacture and design.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), were recovered on June 13 and June 16, 2025, respectively. The devices were transported to Delhi on June 24, 2025, under secure conditions, and delivered to the AAIB Lab. Data extraction commenced on the evening of June 24, 2025, with the successful retrieval of the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box. On June 25, 2025, the memory module was accessed, and data downloaded. Analysis of the CVR and FDR data is currently underway to reconstruct the accident sequence and identify contributing factors. All actions have been conducted in compliance with domestic laws and international obligations.
Release ID: 2139785. The Ministry of Civil Aviation posted the report on June 26, 2025, at 1:17 PM. Contact persons are Sanjay Roy and Divyanshu Kumar.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India Flight AI171: The specific flight involved in the accident being investigated.
ICAO Chicago Convention 1944: An international agreement to which India is a signatory, governing air navigation.
ICAO Annex 13: A specific annex to the ICAO Chicago Convention that provides guidelines for aircraft accident investigation.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB: The designated authority in India responsible for investigating aircraft accidents.
National Transportation Safety Board NTSB: The government investigative agency from the United States involved in the investigation due to the state of manufacture and design of the aircraft.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat: City in Gujarat where the black boxes were initially secured and stored.
Delhi: Location of the AAIB Lab where data extraction and analysis of the black boxes are being conducted.
Aircraft Investigation of Accidents and Incidents Rules, 2017: Rules followed during investigation of the accident
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Status Report on recovery and examination of data
from Black Boxes – Air India Flight AI-171
Posted On: 26 JUN 2025 1:17PM by PIB Delhi
India, as a signatory to the ICAO Chicago Convention (1944), investigates aircraft accidents in accordance
with ICAO Annex 13 and the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. The Aircraft
Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is the designated authority for such investigations.
Following the unfortunate accident involving Air India Flight AI-171, the AAIB promptly initiated an
investigation and constituted a multidisciplinary team on 13 June 2025, in line with prescribed norms. The
team, constituted as per international protocol, is led by DG AAIB, and includes an aviation medicine
specialist, an ATC officer, and representatives from National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which is
government investigative agency from the state of manufacture and design, (USA), as required for such
investigations.
Recovery and Handling of Black Boxes
Both the Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) and Flight Data Recorders (FDR) were recovered—one from a
rooftop of the building at the crash site on 13 June, 2025 and the other from the debris on 16 June, 2025.
Standard Operating Procedures were issued for their secure handling, storage, and transportation. The devices
were kept under 24x7 police protection and CCTV surveillance in Ahmedabad.
Subsequently, the black boxes were brought from Ahmedabad to Delhi by IAF aircraft with full
security on 24 June, 2025. The front black box arrived AAIB Lab, Delhi with the DG, AAIB at 1400
hrs on 24 June, 2025. The rear black box was brought by a second AAIB team and reached AAIB
Lab, Delhi at 1715 hrs on 24 June, 2025.
Data Extraction and Current Status
On the evening of 24 June 2025, the team led by DG AAIB with technical members from AAIB and NTSB
began the data extraction process. The Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely
retrieved, and on 25 June, 2025, the memory module was successfully accessed and its data downloaded at the
AAIB Lab.
The analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway. 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.
All actions have been taken in full compliance with domestic laws and international obligations in a time
bound manner.
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Sanjay Roy/Divyanshu Kumar
(Release ID: 2139785)