The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025, has thrust the aircraft’s black box into the spotlight as a critical tool for uncovering the cause of the disaster. This device, comprising a cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and a flight data recorder (FDR), is essential for piecing together the events leading to the accident that claimed over 240 lives.
Investigators have recovered one of the two black boxes from the wreckage, a significant step in the probe led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with assistance from the US National Transportation Safety Board and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch. The recovered black box, found on the rooftop of a medical college hostel struck by the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, is expected to provide vital clues about the mayday call issued moments after takeoff and any warnings the aircraft may have received.
The black box, a term coined from computing to describe a system with complex internal workings, was invented by Australian scientist David Ronald de Mey Warren following the loss of his father in a 1934 plane crash in Australia. FDR, typically located in the aircraft’s tail to minimize crash damage, records critical flight parameters such as engine performance and control settings. The CVR captures cockpit conversations, offering insight into the pilots’ actions and communications during the flight’s final moments.
The black box data will help distinguish between technical malfunctions and human errors, shedding light on why the plane failed to gain altitude and crashed within a minute of departing Ahmedabad. The device’s durability is remarkable, with underwater beacons capable of transmitting signals from depths of up to 14,000 feet, ensuring data recovery even in challenging conditions.
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However, black boxes have limitations, as seen in the recent Jeju Air crash in South Korea, where 179 lives were lost. Despite these constraints, the black box remains a cornerstone of aviation investigations. For instance, the 2020 Kozhikode crash of Air India Express Flight 1344 was attributed to pilot error, a conclusion reached through black box analysis. Similarly, global incidents like the 2015 Germanwings and Malaysia Airlines crashes relied heavily on black box data to uncover critical details.
As investigators analyze the recovered black box from Flight AI171, the aviation community and grieving families await answers about the tragedy that unfolded in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar. The data it holds could clarify the sequence of events, from the mayday call to the aircraft’s rapid descent, bringing closure to one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters.