The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad last week has prompted urgent efforts to determine the cause, with investigators focusing on recovering critical data from the black box, which includes the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR). Here's a breakdown of the latest developments and what they mean:
Black Box Damage and Possible Transfer to the U.S.
According to a report by the Economic Times, Indian authorities are considering sending the damaged FDR to the U.S. for advanced data recovery. The device reportedly suffered extensive external damage due to the intense 1,000°C fire following the crash.
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C. is expected to handle the analysis, owing to its advanced capability to extract data from severely damaged recorders.
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However, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) chief GVG Yugandhar has publicly disputed the report, calling it “factually incorrect” in an email to Reuters, but did not elaborate.
This contradiction suggests that final decisions regarding data extraction location are still being deliberated, or that internal assessments may yet determine if domestic recovery is possible.
India’s Capability Limitation
India currently lacks the high-end facilities required to extract data from black boxes that are physically compromised. In past cases involving severe damage, data has often been sent abroad, particularly to the U.S., France, or the U.K.
If confirmed, the move to send the FDR to the NTSB's lab would be consistent with international best practices in major air crash investigations.
Why the Black Box Matters
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The Flight Data Recorder logs hundreds of parameters from the flight — engine status, altitude, speed, throttle position, flight control movements, and more.
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The Cockpit Voice Recorder captures the last two hours of cockpit audio, including pilot conversations, alarm sounds, and other audible cues.
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Together, they will reconstruct the final moments of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner before it crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building, killing 274 people, including dozens on the ground.
Possible Cause: Dual Engine Failure?
In early speculation, former US Navy pilot Captain Steve Scheibner pointed to a dual engine failure as a likely cause, based on reports that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed.
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The RAT activates only when an aircraft loses all engine-generated power, providing emergency hydraulic and electrical support.
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This theory aligns with the flight's sudden loss of control seconds after takeoff, but no official cause has been confirmed.
Investigation Timeline
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The AAIB has been given three months to complete its investigation.
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The decoding of the black box, especially if sent overseas, could take weeks to months, depending on the extent of internal damage.
Conclusion
While reports about sending the black box to the U.S. remain contested, the urgency to retrieve the data is indisputable. The investigation’s success hinges on whether the FDR and CVR data can be recovered — and how quickly. These recordings are essential not only for understanding what went wrong but also for preventing future tragedies involving India’s aviation sector.
