The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered an immediate and comprehensive safety inspection of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, following the tragic crash of flight AI171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June. The ill-fated flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, plummeted shortly after takeoff, erupting into a fireball near the BJ Medical College hostel in Meghaninagar. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the crash site.

In an official communication dated 12 June 2025, the Office of the Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation mandated enhanced safety protocols for all Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft operated by Air India and powered by Genx engines. These checks must be conducted in coordination with regional DGCA offices.

Effective from 00:00 hours on 15 June 2025, Air India is required to implement the following:

  • One-time pre-departure inspections involving checks on fuel parameter monitoring systems, cabin air compressors, electronic engine control systems, engine fuel driven actuators, oil systems, hydraulic system serviceability, and a review of take-off parameters.
  • Flight control inspections during transit checks until further notice.
  • Power assurance tests to be completed within two weeks.
  • Immediate closure of maintenance actions arising from the review of repetitive snags reported in the last 15 days on the specified aircraft models.

The directive also instructs Air India to submit a detailed report of these inspections to the DGCA for evaluation. The order was issued with the approval of the competent authority.

Black Box & DFDR Retrieved, AAIB Says

Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recovered the black box of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft that crashed while operating as flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The analysis of the device is expected to provide crucial clues regarding the cause of the accident.

"Contrary to some reports, the video recorder being circulated is not the DFDR (Digital Flight Data Recorder). The black box was found on the rooftop. AAIB began work with full force immediately. Over 40 staff from the State Government joined efforts to augment MoCA teams on site. The DFDR has been recovered from the rooftop," AAIB stated, as per news agency ANI.

"DFDR (Digital Flight Data Recorder) itself is the black box," it further clarified.

Teams from the Ahmedabad Fire Brigade, equipped with specialised tools including metal cutters, remain engaged in retrieving critical components from the wreckage. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Kanan Desai told PTI, “Work is ongoing to find the black box.” She also clarified that “no such thing as a digital video recorder of the flight has been found.”

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dhrumit Gandhi added, “Our team is helping forensic and civil aviation experts in retrieving the black box. The team is equipped with specialised tools such as metal cutters.”

(With PTI Inputs)