Air India Crash Investigators Say Black Boxes Intact, Reveal Key Data Recovered

Investigators looking into the fatal Air India crash that killed 260 people last month have told lawmakers that both black boxes from the aircraft were recovered intact and undamaged, according to two people familiar with a recent closed-door parliamentary briefing.

The update contradicts earlier Indian media reports claiming the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—crucial for understanding what led to the crash—were damaged when the London-bound Boeing Dreamliner went down in a fiery explosion on June 12.

Officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told members of Parliament’s aviation panel on Wednesday that they had successfully extracted “good data” from both devices, one of the sources said. Both requested anonymity due to the private nature of the discussions.

The AAIB and India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Reuters.

The two black boxes were recovered in the days following the crash—one found on a rooftop near the crash site on June 13, and the second retrieved from the debris on June 16.

A preliminary report on the crash is expected to be released by Friday, Reuters previously reported.

Investigators have reportedly narrowed their focus to possible issues with the aircraft’s fuel control switches and engine thrust, areas that may have played a role in the tragic crash, according to earlier Reuters coverage.

The crash has triggered widespread scrutiny of Air India’s operations. The airline’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, appeared before the parliamentary panel to provide updates on the company’s response following the incident, one source said.

Separately, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has launched a probe into Air India’s low-cost arm, Air India Express. This comes after a Reuters investigation revealed the airline failed to timely replace engine parts on an Airbus A320, in violation of an official directive, and allegedly falsified records to show compliance.

India’s aviation regulator has also warned Air India for operating three Airbus aircraft with overdue safety checks on their emergency escape slides, further intensifying pressure on the airline.