Sun Jul 13 02:11:30 UTC 2025: **News Article Summary:**

A crucial breakthrough has been made in the investigation of the Air India plane crash that occurred last month in Ahmedabad, claiming the lives of 260 people. Investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have successfully downloaded 49 hours of flight data, including two hours of cockpit audio from one of the plane’s “black boxes.” This was achieved using a “Golden Chassis” (identical EAFR unit) sourced from the U.S. National Transport Safety Board (NTSB). While one black box yielded valuable information, the second was too damaged to be read using standard methods. An investigation team, including specialists in various aviation fields, has been assembled to analyze the recovered data.

**News Article:**

**Data Recovered from Air India Crash Black Box, Investigation Gains Momentum**

**New Delhi, July 13, 2025** – A significant step forward has been made in the investigation of the tragic Air India Boeing 787-8 crash that occurred in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) announced today that it has successfully recovered 49 hours of flight data, including critical cockpit audio, from one of the aircraft’s “black boxes” (Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders or EAFRs).

The breakthrough was made possible by the acquisition of a specialized “Golden Chassis” – an identical EAFR unit and download cables – from the U.S. National Transport Safety Board (NTSB). This equipment allowed investigators to overcome damage to the forward EAFR’s Crash Protection Module (CPM) and extract vital information.

“The downloaded flight data contained approximately 49 hours of flight data and 6 flights, including the event flight,” the AAIB stated in its preliminary report. “The recovered audio was two hours in length and captured the event.” Initial analysis of the data is currently underway.

Unfortunately, the aft EAFR sustained extensive damage and could not be downloaded using conventional techniques. Investigators are currently assessing options for potentially recovering data from the damaged memory card.

Leading the investigation is Sanjay Kumar Singh, appointed as the Investigator-in-Charge, with Jasbir Singh Larhga serving as Chief Investigator. A multidisciplinary team, including experienced pilots, engineers, aviation medicine specialists, aviation psychologists, and flight recorder experts, has been assembled to analyze the data and determine the cause of the crash, which tragically claimed the lives of all 260 passengers and crew on board.

The wreckage of the Air India plane remains at Ahmedabad Airport premises, a somber reminder of the disaster. The AAIB’s progress in recovering the flight data offers a glimmer of hope for understanding the circumstances surrounding the crash and preventing similar incidents in the future.

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