Questions Mount Over Delay in Air India Crash Probe; Govt Confirms Black Box Data Accessed

More than two weeks after the tragic Air India AI-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of 241 people with only one survivor, political pressure is building over the slow pace of the investigation. The Congress party has openly criticized the government, questioning why no chief investigator has been appointed even after 14 days.

Congress Slams Investigation Delay

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X to share a news report, calling the delay “incomprehensible and inexcusable.” He wrote:

“Fourteen days after the horrific plane crash in Ahmedabad, it is being reported that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has not yet appointed a chief investigator. This delay raises serious concerns.”

So far, no official response has been issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) regarding the appointment of the lead investigator.

Major Update: Black Box Data Retrieved

Amidst mounting criticism, the Civil Aviation Ministry issued a significant update on the technical investigation. It confirmed that the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box of the aircraft was safely extracted on June 24, and the memory module was accessed on June 25.

“Data has been successfully downloaded to the AAIB lab, and analysis of both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) is currently underway,” said the ministry.

What Happens Next?

Authorities say that the retrieved data will help reconstruct the chain of events that led to the crash, identify the contributing factors, and propose safety enhancements to prevent such incidents in the future.

Public, Political Pressure Grows

While the technical aspects are progressing, the delay in assigning leadership to the investigation has fueled speculation and concern. Victims’ families, aviation experts, and now opposition leaders are demanding greater transparency and urgency.