Civil Aviation Minister to Chair High-Level Meeting on Air India AI-171 Crash; Black Box Recovery, Safety Protocols on Agenda

New Delhi: In the wake of the devastating crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad that claimed 265 lives, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu will chair a high-level meeting on Saturday to review the investigation and assess nationwide air safety protocols, government sources confirmed.

This will be the first formal meeting at the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) since the fatal incident. Scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in Delhi, the meeting will be attended by senior officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and other key aviation bodies.

According to sources cited by India Today, the agenda will include a comprehensive review of the ongoing investigation into the AI-171 crash, examination of the evidence collected so far, and formulation of next steps. Reports and input will be sought from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), emergency response teams, and technical experts involved in the probe.

The tragedy unfolded when the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, colliding with a hostel building inside the BJ Medical College campus. The disaster killed 241 passengers and crew members onboard, with only one survivor, and claimed 24 lives on the ground, including five medical students.

A significant development came on Friday when the DFDR (Digital Flight Data Recorder)—often referred to as the black box—was recovered from the rooftop of the crash site. The black box is expected to play a crucial role in decoding the final minutes of the flight, offering insights into mechanical, technical, or operational failures.