AAIB Submits Preliminary Report on Ahmedabad Plane Crash to Government — Here’s What It Reveals

The report includes a detailed analysis of data retrieved from the aircraft’s black boxes, which were downloaded at the AAIB laboratory in Delhi.

International & National Experts Involved

The investigation has seen the involvement of experts from multiple agencies, including the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and General Electric (GE). The Director General of AAIB is leading the probe.

Key Findings from the Black Boxes

The Crash Protection Module (CPM) was safely retrieved from the aircraft's front black box. On June 25, 2025, the memory module was accessed and the data was successfully downloaded in Delhi.

Sources revealed that to ensure data accuracy, a "Golden Chassis" — a matching black box unit — was used to cross-check the readings. Notably, the first black box was found on June 13 on a building rooftop, while the second was recovered on June 16 from the debris.

What the Report Covers

The preliminary report includes:

• A minute-by-minute timeline of the aircraft’s final moments
• Cockpit voice recordings
• Pilot control inputs
• Aircraft system data
• Weather conditions during the incident
• Communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC)

A team from the NTSB is currently in Delhi, working closely with Indian officials at the AAIB lab. Engineers and safety officers from Boeing and GE are also providing technical assistance.

Importantly, the investigation team also includes aviation medical experts and air traffic control officers, reflecting a comprehensive approach to understanding the crash.

A Shift in India's Investigation Capabilities

Previously, India relied on foreign labs for decoding black boxes from major air crashes. For example:

• The 1996 Charkhi Dadri crash black boxes were decoded in Moscow and Farnborough, UK
• The 2010 Mangalore crash data was decoded by the NTSB in the U.S.
• In the 2015 Delhi crash, help was sought from Canada
• In the 2020 Kozhikode crash, decoding assistance came from the U.S.

However, with the current AAIB lab in Delhi, India is now independently capable of conducting such high-level data analysis — marking a significant step in aviation safety oversight.