The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is exploring all possible angles in the Air India flight AI 171 crash investigation, including the possibility of sabotage. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that sabotage is among the factors being examined. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12.
The crash resulted in a total of 260 fatalities, including 241 passengers and crew members on board, and 19 people on the ground. Only one person survived the crash. The aircraft crashed into a residential area near BJ Medical College, killing nine students and their relatives.
The AAIB has recovered the black boxes, which consist of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR), and is analyzing the data to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash. The black box data is being analyzed domestically with technical assistance from international observers from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the UK. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the data decoding process began on June 24. The Crash Protection Module (CPM) of the CVR was safely retrieved, and its memory module was successfully accessed on June 25 at AAIB's Delhi lab.
Investigators are examining several factors, including engine thrust levels and flap configurations. They are also evaluating airport CCTV footage, radio logs, and other surveillance data. Maintenance records and crew actions are also under review. Preliminary theories suggest a rare simultaneous engine failure may have caused the crash. The pilot issued a 'Mayday' distress call shortly after takeoff, which indicates a serious in-flight emergency.
The final death toll has been confirmed at 260. All bodies have been recovered and identified, and their remains have been handed over to their families. The state government has provided logistical and medical assistance to the affected families.
