27 June 2025: PIB Summary For UPSC
1. Status Report on recovery and examination of data from Black Boxes – Air India Flight AI‑171
(Source – PIB (Press Information Bureau), June 27, 2025)
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Topic: GS Paper 2 – Governance: Aviation Safety, International Conventions |
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Context |
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Content
Background & Mandate
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India adheres to ICAO Annex 13 and its own Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.
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The AAIB, headed by its Director General, is leading a multidisciplinary team including an aviation medicine specialist, ATC officer, and U.S. NTSB representatives associated with the aircraft’s design/production.
Recovery of Black Boxes
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Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were retrieved from the crash site: one from the rooftop on 13 June, and the other from debris on 16 June in Ahmedabad.
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Under police and CCTV surveillance, they were secured and then flown to Delhi by the IAF on 24 June.
Data Extraction & Analysis
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On the evening of 24 June, the DG-led team began extracting data.
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By 25 June, Crash Protection Module from the front unit was accessed and data successfully downloaded.
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Ongoing analysis of CVR and FDR aims to reconstruct events leading up to the accident, identify human, technical, or procedural lapses.
Significance & Compliance
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These actions demonstrate India’s compliance with ICAO obligations and highlight the importance of institutional preparedness in aviation safety and accident investigation.
Way Forward
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Continuous and expedited analysis is vital to issuing safety recommendations, identifying systemic weaknesses, and maintaining trust in aviation safety.
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Outcomes may lead to improved SOPs, cockpit procedures, training, ATC protocols, and aircraft maintenance—bolstering India’s aviation regulatory framework.
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Practice Question: “Explain how compliance with ICAO Annex 13 enhances aviation safety in India. Discuss the institutional mechanisms involved in accident investigation and assessment of their effectiveness.” |
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