India’s newly inaugurated black box analysis lab, built at a cost of ₹9 crore (approximately $1.08 million USD), is facing its first major challenge. Following the tragic Air India Boeing 787 crash (flight AI-171) in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, investigators recovered the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). However, due to the extreme damage to both devices, authorities have decided to send them to the U.S. for advanced analysis.

Despite opening in April with state-of-the-art infrastructure and support from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) lab could not extract data from the severely damaged black boxes. Officials stated that the equipment required to analyze such damage is currently beyond the lab’s capabilities. The recorders will be examined at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) lab in Washington.

This move has reignited debate within India’s aviation community over the lab’s readiness for complex crash scenarios. Experts are calling for greater investment in both cutting-edge technology and skilled personnel. The investigation, which seeks to uncover the cause of a crash that claimed hundreds of lives, is ongoing, with a preliminary report expected in 30 days.