Recovery of Flight Recorders Marks Progress in Investigating Air India Crash

Fri Feb 13 2026 06:19:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Data retrieval from the cockpit voice and flight data recorders is a crucial step in understanding the tragic Air India crash that claimed 270 lives.

Investigators from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have successfully recovered and accessed data from the flight and cockpit recorders of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, providing essential insights into the incident.

Investigators have confirmed the recovery of critical flight recorder data from the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that tragically crashed on June 12. This data retrieval is a significant development in the ongoing probe into the accident that claimed 270 lives when the aircraft went down less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.

The Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs), commonly known as black boxes, were extracted from the crash site on June 13 and June 16, one discovered on a rooftop, while the other was found within the debris. The federal government may take several weeks before officially releasing details derived from these recorders.

The Boeing 787 is equipped with dual recorder systems that capture both flight data and cockpit audio, allowing investigators to precisely track crucial metrics such as gear and flap positions, engine performance, and the activation of emergency measures. This data is pivotal for reconstructing the moments leading up to the crash and assessing the factors contributing to the incident.

The Indian civil aviation ministry announced on Wednesday that a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), along with personnel from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), accessed the flight recorders. The ministry stated, "The analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway" to better understand the accident's timeline and improve aviation safety.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, expressed hope that the Indian government would release findings quickly to enhance public awareness of aviation safety. The NTSB’s collaboration with Indian authorities has been described as exemplary.

The recovery and analysis of the flight data generated discussion among aviation experts regarding the delay, considering the crash site assessment took nearly two weeks. Air India Flight 171, which took off at 13:39 local time, had only been airborne for roughly 40 seconds before issuing a mayday call — its final communication — and ultimately crashing into a densely populated area of Ahmedabad, resulting in one of the deadliest air disasters in recent Indian history.