Ahmedabad crash black box delayed NTSB recovery.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recently established a new black box laboratory designed to retrieve flight data and conduct detailed analyses of aviation accidents and incidents. While the lab marks a significant advancement in India’s investigative capabilities, it remains unclear whether it possesses the necessary technology or expertise to recover data from a black box involved in a high-impact crash like the recent one in Ahmedabad. Questions persist about the lab’s readiness and its compatibility with international recovery standards.
Black Box Data from Ahmedabad Crash Retrieved with U.S. Assistance Amid Questions Over Delay
The black box data from the Air India Boeing 787 aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad last month was eventually retrieved using specialized equipment provided by the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This vital kit—essential for downloading data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) installed on the aircraft—was flown into India 11 days after the accident, sparking widespread scrutiny and raising concerns about the delay in critical data recovery.
The crash, which shocked the nation and prompted a high-level investigation, involved an Air India Dreamliner that went down under still-unexplained circumstances. While authorities acted quickly to secure the crash site and begin a preliminary investigation, the recovery and analysis of the aircraft’s black box data—a key component in any aviation accident probe—took longer than expected.
The first unit was located and retrieved on June 13, while the second was recovered three days later, on June 16. These devices, which are formally known as Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders, or EAFRs, contain both cockpit voice recordings and digital flight data.
Despite recovering both recorders within days of the incident, the crucial process of extracting their data was delayed until after the necessary tools were flown in from the United States. A press statement released earlier by the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that both black boxes were transferred to Delhi on June 24 for analysis.
However, a key development occurred just a day prior. According to the preliminary investigation report issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the required equipment to download data from the EAFRs—the “Golden Chassis” (an identical EAFR unit used for interfacing) and the necessary download cables—were sourced from the NTSB and reached India on June 23, 2025. This effectively meant that the technical ability to extract data was not available locally, and authorities had to wait until the U.S.-supplied kit arrived to begin analysis.
The situation has raised several important questions, particularly about India’s domestic capability to manage aviation crash investigations independently. Critics and aviation analysts alike are now questioning why India’s own investigative infrastructure was not prepared to handle a scenario like this without foreign assistance.
Developed with an investment of ₹9 crore, the facility was touted as a major leap forward in India’s aviation safety infrastructure. It was said to be capable of retrieving data and conducting detailed forensic analysis of flight recorders involved in accidents and incidents.
However, the recent events have cast doubt on the preparedness and capabilities of the new lab. While it may indeed house sophisticated tools and skilled personnel, it remains unclear whether the facility was ever equipped to handle Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders of the type used in the Dreamliner involved in the Ahmedabad crash. If it was not, the delay in data extraction—despite the presence of a brand-new facility—raises further questions about planning, investment priorities, and operational readiness.
Officials have so far refrained from offering a detailed explanation on why the lab could not immediately extract the data from the black boxes. The absence of the right tools, such as the Golden Chassis and corresponding cables, points to a possible oversight in equipping the lab for handling newer-generation flight recorders like the EAFRs found on the Boeing 787.
Aviation experts say that while not all black boxes are created equal, modern recorders like EAFRs often require specific interfacing units and software, which may not be commercially or easily available. These components are typically held by aircraft manufacturers or national transportation safety authorities like the NTSB.
Still, critics argue that if India is serious about developing self-reliant aviation investigation infrastructure, then the AAIB’s lab must be stocked with tools and spares that cater to a range of aircraft and recorder types, especially those widely used in Indian commercial fleets.
The incident has prompted calls for an urgent review of the lab’s equipment inventory, training modules, and coordination protocols with international bodies. There are also growing demands for India to invest not just in infrastructure but also in the supply chain required to support timely crash investigations—including stocking critical components or entering pre-arranged access agreements with foreign agencies.
Meanwhile, the retrieved data from the Ahmedabad crash is currently under examination by AAIB investigators in coordination with officials from Air India, Boeing, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Findings from the black box are expected to provide critical insights into what went wrong during the final moments of the ill-fated flight.
As the nation awaits the full investigative report, the episode has become a wake-up call for India’s aviation ecosystem. While the launch of the black box lab marked an ambitious step forward, this crash has exposed operational gaps that need urgent fixing if India hopes to conduct fully independent and timely accident investigations in the future.