The black box retrieved from the wreckage of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad has been found largely intact, officials confirmed on Saturday, increasing the chances that data extraction can take place within India. Investigators are hopeful that the information it contains may provide early answers about why the Boeing 787 crashed just 33 seconds after taking off.
Typically, damaged flight data recorders must be sent to the manufacturer &mdash; in this instance, Boeing&rsquo;s headquarters in the United States &mdash; delaying investigations. However, as the black box appears to have sustained only minor damage, officials are optimistic that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) can analyse the data at its Delhi headquarters.
&ldquo;The black box will offer a clearer picture of the events leading up to the crash. It was located on Friday and appears to have suffered little damage. Therefore, it is more likely to be analysed by India&rsquo;s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) at its headquarters in Delhi,&rdquo; said an official familiar with the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Earlier this year, the civil aviation ministry launched a new laboratory in Delhi equipped to analyse data from cockpit voice recorders, flight data recorders, and radar feeds to strengthen the accuracy of air crash investigations. Another official mentioned that while the AAIB is expected to handle the data, consultations are ongoing about involving Boeing and GE &mdash; the aircraft&rsquo;s engine manufacturer &mdash; for their expertise. &ldquo;The relevant authorities are evaluating their options. Although the AAIB is expected to access the black box, discussions are ongoing regarding the involvement of Boeing or GE for their technical input on the crash data,&rdquo; the official added.
Recovery teams are continuing efforts to retrieve the aircraft&rsquo;s tail section, where the second black box is located. Boeing 787 aircraft are fitted with two black boxes &mdash; one at each end &mdash; to ensure backup. These devices, actually painted bright orange for visibility, contain enhanced airborne data recorders that collect both cockpit voice and flight data.
According to police, the National Security Guard (NSG), assisted by sniffer dogs and advanced scanning equipment, found no signs of explosives at the BJ Medical College campus, where the aircraft crashed and exploded. The disaster claimed the lives of 241 out of 242 passengers and crew, along with several college students and residents from nearby housing.
In addition to voice recordings, the recovered black box holds detailed information about the flight, including pilot actions, instrument readings, button presses, and lever movements.
The investigation is receiving support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, while Boeing officials were scheduled to arrive on Saturday.
After thoroughly searching the crash site, NSG teams ruled out any evidence of sabotage or foul play. &ldquo;The NSG teams found no evidence of explosives or improvised explosive devices in any of the Air India plane&rsquo;s wreckage,&rdquo; a police officer involved in the inspection confirmed. During the operation, however, rescuers discovered the body of a woman, believed to be a crew member, trapped beneath the tail section that had embedded itself in the wall of the hostel mess.
&ldquo;The scanners, capable of detecting objects hidden beneath opaque surfaces, led to the discovery of the body during the search,&rdquo; the officer explained.
Plans are underway to transport the wreckage either to an airport hangar or a nearby airbase, where investigators will reconstruct the aircraft to help establish the cause of the crash. &ldquo;At the hangar or the air base, wherever it is taken, the remaining part of the damaged aircraft will be put together to probe what led to the crash,&rdquo; one official explained. However, the final decision on where to relocate the debris is still pending.
Boeing personnel are expected to assess the wreckage on site before any move takes place.
The crash site continues to be heavily guarded, with Gujarat police and Air India officials securing the area where debris remains strewn across the medical college campus. Access is restricted to investigators, and the affected area, covering roughly 200 metres, remains sealed.
&ldquo;The aircraft missed our colony by just 100 to 200 metres,&rdquo; said Sujata, a resident whose home borders the college grounds. &ldquo;The police have told us that entry will be restricted for a few more days, meaning the wreckage will stay here until further notice.&rdquo; Sujata&rsquo;s rooftop has become a popular vantage point for television crews and photographers attempting to capture images of the crash site.
Following security clearance, two cranes were brought in on Saturday afternoon to extract the tail section from the hostel wall &mdash; a delicate procedure that took nearly four hours. Although successfully removed from the structure, the tail remains at the site alongside other scattered aircraft parts, which will be preserved as evidence until the inquiry is concluded.
&ldquo;All relevant agencies on site in Ahmedabad have been instructed to safeguard every piece of the aircraft wherever it lies, as this wreckage represents critical evidence,&rdquo; said a senior official from the civil aviation ministry.

Black box found on Friday, likely to be analysed by AAIB in Delhi, says investigation official

Air India 171 Black Box Intact, Probe Progresses

Black box found on Friday, likely to be analysed by AAIB in Delhi, says investigation official

June 15, 2025 | 09:51 IST