Air India AI 171 crash: Families urge Modi to release CVR and black box data

Ten months after the Air India crash that killed 260 people, families of victims asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release key recordings. The request focused on the Cockpit Voice Recorder and black box Flight Data Recorder. Relatives said the data would help explain why Air India flight AI 171 went down.

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Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 bound for London, crashed on June 12, 2025. The aircraft hit a medical college hostel complex soon after take-off. The flight had departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. It caught fire, killing 241 of 242 onboard and 19 people on the ground.

Air India plane crash families seek CVR and black box data

Around 30 bereaved families from across Gujarat met in Ahmedabad on Saturday and wrote to the prime minister. The letter asked that the CVR and black box data be released. "We want to know the truth about what caused the crash and whether there was any technical problem,\" they said.

The families also set out a second request if public release was not possible. The letter said the data should at least be shown to families in private. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Air India plane crash relatives describe grief and compensation limits

Nilesh Purohit, who lost a 24-year-old son, said the loss still shaped daily life. \"My home feels completely empty now,\" said Nilesh Purohit. \"No amount of compensation can fill this void. We dont want money, we just want to know what happened,\" he said.

Some relatives said the emotional strain increased due to what they saw as weak support systems. Kinjal Patel from Vasad, who lost her mother, spoke about a website Air India set up. It was meant to help families recover victims’ belongings. Patel said the site listed over 25,000 items, but images looked unclear.

Air India plane crash portal draws complaints about access and sensitivity

Families also raised concerns about communication and digital access. Romin Vora from Kheda, who lost a mother, a brother, and a daughter, described delays. \"There is only one email ID, and responses take upto 15 days. Many people in villages dont even know how to use email,\" he said.

Vora also said the public listing of personal items on the portal felt inappropriate. The airline’s response was awaited. Investigators have continued their work since the crash, while families waited for more details from official channels.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau submitted a preliminary probe report in July last year. The final report is likely in June, close to the first anniversary of the crash. Families said access to flight recordings and black box data would help settle unanswered questions about the disaster.

With inputs from PTI