Indian authorities are working to determine the sequence of events that led to the deadly Air India plane crash earlier this month, which claimed 260 lives, the civil aviation ministry said on Thursday.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The disaster killed 241 of the 242 people on board, along with 19 on the ground, marking the deadliest aviation incident in a decade.
Read More : Over 200 Lose Lives in Air India Crash in Ahmedabad
Investigators recovered the aircraft’s black boxes—the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR)—in the days following the crash. One was found on a rooftop at the crash site on June 13, while the other was retrieved from the wreckage on June 16.
The devices were sent to New Delhi on Tuesday, where a team from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau began extracting data. In a statement, the ministry confirmed that the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the first black box had been successfully accessed, with data downloaded for analysis. The CPM safeguards critical flight recordings during accidents.
Last week, officials had not yet decided where the black boxes would be examined. The data could reveal crucial details about the plane’s performance and pilot communications before the crash.
The tragedy has also reignited concerns over safety violations by Indian airlines. The country’s aviation regulator recently flagged recurring aircraft defects at Mumbai and Delhi airports, two of India’s busiest hubs.
Air India, facing heightened scrutiny since the crash, has been warned for lapses, including operating planes with overdue emergency equipment checks. The airline has also been cited for violations in pilot duty scheduling and oversight.
In response, Air India stated that it has complied with regulatory directives and is reinforcing safety measures. The airline added that it is expediting maintenance record verifications, with completion expected soon.
The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover the factors behind one of the worst aviation tragedies in recent history.
