The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has submitted its preliminary report on the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned authorities. According to senior government officials quoted by NDTV, the initial findings are expected to be made public later this week.
The London-bound flight crashed into a medical college hostel shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. Remarkably, one passenger survived the devastating accident.
A combined unit of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the wreckage on June 13, with a second set found on June 16. The aircraft model involved is equipped with two black box systems.
The AAIB launched its investigation on the day of the crash, with the Director General ordering a full probe. In line with international aviation protocols, teams from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the aircraft’s manufacturer joined Indian investigators in the inquiry.
The investigation is exploring the possibility of a dual-engine failure and is being led by a multi-disciplinary team, including experts from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the NTSB. The team also includes a specialist in aviation medicine and an air traffic control officer.
Thanks to the recently established AAIB Lab in Delhi, India now has the capability to decode flight data and cockpit voice recordings domestically — a task that previously required sending black boxes abroad to countries like the US, UK, France, and Russia.
Technical experts from Boeing and engine manufacturer GE are also involved in the ongoing analysis.