n a troubling development, the ongoing investigation into Air India&rsquo;s AI-171 crash landing in Ahmedabad on June 12 has uncovered a major setback, the aircraft&rsquo;s black box ceased recording moments before impact, leaving investigators without critical flight data. Investigators and the authorities stands perplexed with safety concerns surfaced.&nbsp;&nbsp;
According to the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the cockpit voice and flight data recorder (FDR)&nbsp; collectively known as the &ldquo;Black box&rdquo; stopped functioning at precisely 1:39:11 PM IST, the moment Boeing 787 aircraft crashed. This sudden silence, just six seconds after the pilot issued a mayday call, has alarmed aviation experts and raised questions about equipment reliability.
Black box failure defies global aviation norms
Under international aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), black boxes are designed to continue recording even after impact, thanks to an emergency backup power supply known as RIPS (Recorder Independent Power Supply). This system ensures that vital flight data is preserved for post crash analysis, but in the case of AI-171, RIPS failed to do its job.
The investigators revealed that the flight data only records up to the engine restart attempts, with no information from the moments immediately following the crash. This technical failure of the RIPS system has led to serious concerns about whether mandatory aviation safety features were functioning correctly.
Aviation safety expert flags red flags&nbsp;
Amit Singh, founder of the aviation safety organization Safety Matters, pointed out that the absence of black box data from the final phase of flight severely limits the scope of the investigation.
&ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t a minor technical glitch,&rdquo; Singh emphasized. &ldquo;We are missing key evidence from the most critical 10 minutes. The RIPS system is not optional, it is a mandated safety mechanism. If it failed, it not only raises technical questions but also regulatory ones.&rdquo;
He further questioned whether the black box was solely dependent on the aircraft&rsquo;s main power supply, whether the RIPS system was damaged during the crash, or if it was never activated in the first place.
What Happens Next?&nbsp;
The AAIB is now probing the cause of the RIPS malfunction, and whether a deeper systemic issue exists within the aircraft's safety infrastructure. The lack of post crash data leaves a significant gap in understanding what went wrong during AI-171's emergency landing.
With hundreds of Boeing 787 Dreamliners operating worldwide, the incident may prompt a broader safety review of black box systems and emergency power protocols.
Until a full report is released, the unanswered questions surrounding AI-171's black box could influence regulatory discussions around airline safety compliance, manufacturer accountability, and equipment audits which in all regards is a mandatory concern raising questions to the safety of netizens.&nbsp;

Air India Crash: Black Box Stops Recording

AI-171 black box failed at impact, raising questions over safety and power backup systems

Air India Crash: Black Box Stops Recording

AI-171 black box failed at impact, raising questions over safety and power backup systems

July 27, 2025 | 20:38 IST