The recent Air India AI-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, which occurred shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, has claimed the lives of at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew members. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner struck a medical college hostel in a residential area, resulting in one of India's worst aviation disasters in decades. Amid the ongoing investigation, a critical piece of equipment has been recovered: the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).

The CVR, often referred to as one of the "black boxes" of an aircraft (though it's actually painted bright orange for visibility), is a vital tool for investigators. It meticulously stores audio recordings from the cockpit, capturing pilot conversations, alarms, and any background sounds that occur in the final moments leading up to a crash. Its recovery marks a significant step forward in determining the possible cause behind this deadly incident.

The importance of the CVR lies in its ability to provide a detailed timeline and context of the events unfolding in the cockpit. By analyzing the audio, investigators can gain insights into:

• Pilot communication: What were the pilots discussing? Were they aware of any problems? How did they respond to the emergency? The CVR can reveal the exact words exchanged between the pilots and with air traffic control, shedding light on their decision-making process. According to reports, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal sent a "mayday" message just seconds before impact, possibly indicating a loss of power and thrust. The CVR data can confirm the exact wording and timing of this message, providing crucial details about the distress call.
• Warning signals and alarms: What alarms were triggered in the cockpit? The CVR records all audible alerts, which can indicate specific mechanical or system failures. Analyzing these sounds can help investigators pinpoint the source of the problem.
• Ambient sounds: Were there any unusual noises or sounds in the cockpit? The CVR captures all background sounds, including engine noise, switch clicks, and any other sounds that could provide clues about the aircraft's condition.

In past aviation disasters, CVR data has been instrumental in uncovering the causes of accidents. For example, the 2015 Germanwings crash revealed deliberate pilot action through the CVR, while the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 incident was confirmed to be caused by a missile strike based on black box recordings. In India, the 2020 Kozhikode air crash investigation relied on black box recordings to reconstruct pilot decisions and assess runway conditions.

Alongside the CVR, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) has also been recovered. The FDR records various flight parameters, such as altitude, airspeed, engine performance, and control settings. By combining the data from both the CVR and FDR, investigators can create a comprehensive picture of what happened during the flight's final moments.

Currently, a multi-agency CVR committee is analyzing the audio recordings, using timestamps and spectrum software to create a detailed transcript. Due to the sensitive nature of cockpit conversations, the actual audio is never released publicly, and both the recordings and transcripts are handled with strict security and confidentiality.

As the investigation continues, the CVR holds the key to unraveling the final seconds of Air India AI-171 and understanding why the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed. The data gleaned from it will provide invaluable insights into the tragic events that unfolded, helping to prevent similar accidents in the future. In the meantime, the country mourns the loss of lives, with vigils honoring the dead taking place across India and the UK.