Maps
Magazine

WORLD NEWS

Air India Crash: Black Box Too Damaged for India Analysis, Sent to U.S.
Air India crash black box too damaged for data extraction in India. Recorder sent to U.S. NTSB for analysis. Worst aviation disaster in a decade claims 271 lives. 210 victims identified via DNA.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-19
Air India Crash: Black Box Too Damaged for India Analysis, Sent to U.S.

NEW DELHI – The black box from the deadly Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash, which claimed at least 271 lives, has been sent to the United States after Indian investigators failed to retrieve data due to severe fire damage, according to a report by The Economic Times.

Sources cited in the report said that the flight recorder sustained heavy external damage in the post-crash fire, rendering Indian data recovery efforts unsuccessful. The flight data recorder will now be analyzed at the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Washington-based lab, with findings to be shared with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The AAIB has not commented officially on the matter, and Reuters reported no immediate response from the agency.

Worst Aviation Tragedy in a Decade

The Dreamliner tragedy — which occurred last week — is being described as the world’s deadliest aviation disaster in over 10 years. A total of 241 passengers and crew died on board, and at least 30 people on the ground perished when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff.

Among the victims were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. According to Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, 210 bodies have been identified via DNA testing.

No Known Pre-Flight Issues, Says Airline

Air India has maintained that the aircraft was “well-maintained”, with no reported issues prior to takeoff. In an official statement, the airline disclosed the following:

·       The right engine underwent a full overhaul in March 2025.

·       The left engine was inspected as recently as April 2025.

·       The aircraft’s last major service was in June 2023.

“All systems were regularly monitored, and no safety concerns were raised,” Air India stated.

India’s civil aviation regulator has also noted that initial fleet-wide checks on Dreamliner aircraft did not raise major safety concerns in the wake of the crash.

Experienced Crew on Board

The doomed flight was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot and trainer with over 10,000 flying hours on widebody aircraft. First Officer Clive Kunder also had more than 3,400 hours of experience.

As crash investigators examine what may have gone wrong, grieving families await answers and full identification of the victims. Authorities continue to emphasize that only after the flight data and cockpit voice recordings are retrieved will a clear cause of the crash be established.

This investigation marks a major test for Indian aviation safety oversight and highlights the critical role international cooperation plays in high-impact global air disasters.
Tagged:

india

AirIndiaCrash

BlackBox
Share News: