Several global aviation authorities have arrived in Ahmedabad to support India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its inquiry into the tragic Air India Boeing 787 crash that kil*ed 241 people on June 12. Those onboard included 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese nationals, 1 Canadian, and 181 Indians, including 12 crew members.
Representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are part of the investigation. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is also expected to join the inquiry.
The AAIB retrieved the black box—which includes the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and digital flight data recorder (DFDR)—a day after the crash. The data download (“milking”) process could take several hours to days. This marks the first use of India’s newly inaugurated DFDR & CVR lab, opened in April 2025.
During a high-level review meeting, Principal Secretary to PM P.K. Mishra visited the crash site and BJ Medical College, where the bodies were brought. He reaffirmed PM Narendra Modi’s commitment to full support for victims’ families and a coordinated multi-agency response.
A concern raised by experts is the lack of Boeing 787-trained investigators within AAIB. Since Air India is the only Indian operator of the 787, relying on its personnel may lead to conflict of interest. This gap may require external expertise.
Under ICAO standards, a preliminary report must be published within 30 days, and a final report within 12 months. Meanwhile, a committee led by the Home Secretary will suggest new SOPs and emergency response guidelines to help prevent future air accidents.
