The Air India black box report is slowly uncovering the truth behind the deadly crash of Flight AI-171 in this month in Ahmedabad,Gujarat. Here’s everything we know so far in simple terms.
A Terrible Day in Indian Aviation
On June 12, 2025, Flight AI-171, an Air India aircraft, crashed just minutes after taking off about 620 height from Ahmedabad.Sadly, the crash claimed many lives and left the entire country in shock. People wanted answers. What went wrong? Was it a technical issue? Or was it human error?
Now, the black box report is helping investigators to understand the final moments before the crash.
What Is a Black Box?
A black box is actually two devices—the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). the flight’s technical data and the voices in the cockpit recorded in these boxes. In short, they hold the truth of what happened during a flight that day.
After the crash, the black boxes were recovered from the wreckage. One was found a day after the crash, and the second was found later on. Both were badly burnt, but they were still sent to lab for analysis
India’s New Black Box Lab Gets Tested
India had recently built a new black box decoding lab in Delhi. It cost ₹9 crore and was meant to make India self-reliant in such investigations. However, this case was too tough. The recorders were too damaged for full decoding in India.
So, experts are now planning to send them abroad. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are among the top choices to send. These labs have advanced tools and a lot of experience in solving such mysteries and analysis.
First Clues: “Mayday… No Power”
The cockpit voice recorder gave one chilling clue. Just 36 seconds after takeoff, the pilots made a “Mayday” call. They said there was no power. This means something serious happened in the air—possibly a total loss of power in both engines.
Also, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed. This is a small wind-powered device that provides emergency power. It only comes out when all other power sources fail. This shows that the problem was critical and problematic.
What Could Have Gone Wrong?
Experts are now looking at different possibilities:
- Engine Failure: Both engines might have stopped working. That is rare, but not impossible.
- Bird Strike: A collision with birds could damage the engines.
- Electrical Failure: A full electrical failure may have affected the flight systems.
- Pilot Error or Misjudgment: Incorrect settings or delayed decisions may have played a role.
Interestingly, one of the engines was replaced recently in March 2025. The other had its last service in 2023. Investigators will now check the full service history of both engines.
What’s Happening Now?
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the study. They are working with Boeing, GE (the engine maker), and foreign agencies. A preliminary report is expected in early July 2025. A full and final report may take up to one year.
Why the Black Box Is So Important
Without the black box, it is nearly impossible to know what caused the crash. These devices record thousands of pieces of data—speed, altitude, engine pressure, flap settings, and much more. They also record voices and background sounds from the cockpit.
This helps experts recreate the flight and understand what went wrong—step by step.
What This Means for India
This crash is a reminder of how much more needs to be done for air safety in India. The country has made progress, but advanced tools and quick actions are needed in emergencies. The new lab was a good step, but more investment and training will be required to handle complex crash cases in the future.
Final Thoughts
The Air India crash was a heartbreaking moment for the nation. Families lost their loved ones. Citizens lost faith in air safety for a while. But with the help of black box data and expert investigation, the truth is starting to come out.
The goal now is not just to find out what went wrong, but to make sure it never happens again.