The investigation into the Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 is exploring all possibilities, including sabotage, according to Junior Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is analyzing the black box data, recovered CVR and FDR, to determine the cause of the accident.

NEW DELHI: The probe into the June 12 crash of Air India’s AI 171 in Ahmedabad is examining all angles, including sabotage.
Junior civil aviation minister Murlidhar Mohol said in an interview to NDTV that the black box recovered from the wreckage of the ill-fated Dreamliner is with Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which has begun a full investigation into the crash. “It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage. The CCTV footage is being reviewed and all angles are being assessed… several agencies are working on it,” Mohol said.

He ruled out sending the black box abroad for assessment. “It will not go anywhere. It is in AAIB’s custody and there is no need to send it outside. We will do the entire investigation.”
Terming the crash a “rare case”, Mohol said: “It has never happened that both engines have shut down together… Once the (probe) report comes, we will be able to ascertain if it was an engine problem or fuel supply issue, or why both the engines had stopped functioning. There is a CVR (cockpit voice recorder) in the black box which has stored the conversation between the two pilots. It is too early to say anything but whatever it is, it will come out. The report will come in three months.”

The AI Boeing 787 had crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12 just seconds after taking off for London.

Data from the black box has been downloaded at an AAIB lab in Delhi. The aircraft’s CVR and flight data recorder (FDR) were recovered on June 13 and 16, respectively, from the rooftop of the building where the Dreamliner had crashed onto and from the debris. They were flown to Delhi by IAF aircraft on June 24 under security and brought to a lab of AAIB.
Aviation ministry Thursday said, “Analysis of CVR and FDR data is underway. These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety and prevent future occurrences.”
AI flight diverted after AC glitch.

An Air India Boeing 787 from Tokyo Haneda to Delhi made a precautionary diversion to Kolkata Sunday because of a persistent air-conditioning trouble due to which the cabin was uncomfortably hot. “It landed safely and is undergoing checks. We are providing all support to passengers. Arrangements are being made to fly them to Delhi,” AI said.