Tragic Air India Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad: Investigation Updates
Overview of the Crash Incident
On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (flight AI 171) tragically crashed in the Meghani Nagar region of Ahmedabad. The incident resulted in the loss of all passengers aboard, except for one survivor. The aircraft was carrying a total of 169 Indian nationals, alongside 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese individuals, and 1 Canadian.
DGCA's Immediate Response
Following the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) promptly sought a report from its field office. They may also issue a 'Show Cause Notice' to the airline involved. The DGCA often assembles an initial investigation team to gather essential information. Recently, they issued directives concerning the Air India Dreamliner incident.
NSG's Involvement
A team from the National Security Guard (NSG) has been on-site since Friday morning, actively participating in the investigation. They successfully retrieved the aircraft's black box and continue to examine the crash site in collaboration with other investigative agencies.
NIA's Findings
Sources from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have indicated that there is no evidence of conspiracy or criminal involvement in the Air India flight crash near Ahmedabad airport. An NIA team inspected the site and, with assistance from local law enforcement, dismissed any notions of foul play. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is also involved in the ongoing investigation.
CCTV Evidence Recovery
On Friday, the Gujarat ATS recovered a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the wreckage near the B.J. Medical College hostel. An ATS official stated, 'This DVR was discovered among the debris. The Forensic Science Lab (FSL) team will be arriving shortly.' This DVR is crucial as it captures and stores video footage from CCTV systems.
Forensic Team's Role
A nine-member forensic team was dispatched to the Gandhinagar site to gather evidence. They collected samples for laboratory analysis, working alongside the Gujarat ATS.
Insights from the Black Box
The black box has been successfully recovered. Located at the tail of the aircraft, its identification was made on the first day, but it was retrieved on Friday. This device comprises two robust components, designed to endure extreme conditions during an aircraft accident. Every commercial airplane is equipped with two black boxes:
Flight Data Recorder (FDR) – which logs the aircraft's altitude, speed, engine performance, flight path, and other technical metrics.
Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – which captures conversations among pilots, radio communications, warning signals, and other sounds within the cockpit.
These recordings will provide insights into whether the pilots issued a 'Mayday call', attempted to regain control of the aircraft, or received any alerts regarding technical issues.