Ahmedabad, India — Both black boxes from the crashed Air India Flight 171 have been recovered, officials announced on Sunday, providing crucial data that could unveil the cause of the tragic accident that claimed 274 lives.
P.K. Mishra, principal secretary to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, confirmed in an official statement that the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) were found amid the wreckage. “The recovery of both black boxes is a significant step forward in our investigation,” Mishra said late Sunday.
The Hindustan Times reported early Monday that the second black box recovered was the CVR, following the discovery of the FDR on June 13. India’s federal civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, stated that the crash investigation report is expected to be released within three months.
“We are committed to uncovering the truth behind this tragic incident,” Kinjarapu said. “The analysis of the black boxes will provide vital insights.”
According to The Hindu, experts estimate that downloading and analyzing the data from the black boxes may take four to five days. Several international investigative agencies have arrived in Ahmedabad to assist India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in the inquiry.
The crash of Flight 171 is one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history. With the recovery of the black boxes, authorities hope to piece together the final moments before the accident and implement measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
