Black Box Recovered and Being Decoded, Says Civil Aviation Minister

In his first official briefing following the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed the recovery and decoding of the aircraft’s black box. The flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 270 people, including eight on the ground.

“The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team recovered the black box around 5 PM yesterday. Its decoding will provide crucial insight into the moments before the crash,” said Minister Naidu. He added that multiple high-level panels and investigative agencies are now working closely to determine the cause of the accident.

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to aviation safety, the minister said, “India maintains strict safety standards, and in light of the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered extended safety inspections of all Boeing 787 aircraft in the country. Eight of the 34 planes have already been inspected.”

Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha added that the aircraft had previously completed its Paris–Delhi–Ahmedabad sector without any issues. He assured that every aspect of the flight’s technical and operational history is under review.

The AAIB is leading the investigation, and findings from the black box analysis are expected to offer vital data on the crash sequence.