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Western aviation regulators from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have expressed concerns about the investigation into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Sources familiar with the situation told Corriere della Sera that there are worries about potential political influences affecting the transparency of the investigation conducted by Indian authorities.
The apprehensions stem from India's handling of the aircraft's black boxes. Unlike typical procedures where such data is sent to more experienced facilities in France or the US, India opted to analyze it locally. This decision raised eyebrows as India's labs are relatively new, having opened on April 9, 2025. Despite recommendations from France to use its BEA lab, Indian authorities declined.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered on June 13 and June 16 respectively near Ahmedabad Civil Hospital complex after the crash occurred shortly after takeoff. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India is leading this probe with support from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). However, questions regarding AAIB's independence arise since it operates under India's Ministry of Civil Aviation.
