Families request release of AI171 black box data

Ahmedabad: Around 15 families of victims of the Air India AI171 aircraft crash gathered on Sindhu Bhavan Road on Saturday, urging authorities to release the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) data from the fatal accident that occurred in June last year. The families said the information was crucial for understanding the reasons behind the crash and for bringing them long-awaited closure. The relatives submitted a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with copies marked to the Union civil aviation minister, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel. In the letter, the families appealed for transparency in the investigation and access to the black box data. Kuldeep Gadhavi, a social worker associated with a support group for the victims' families, said it has been nearly 10 months since the crash but there has been little communication from authorities. "The investigation is still ongoing, but the families have not been kept informed. They are desperate for answers and closure and decided to come together to seek clarity," he told mediapersons. In the letter, family members stated that they wanted to know what exactly caused the crash and whether any technical malfunction was involved. They stressed that the black box data would help them understand the final moments of their loved ones and ensure accountability. The families also pointed out that such information could help prevent similar tragedies in the future. While requesting public disclosure, they said that if the data cannot be released officially, it should at least be shared with the affected families. Apart from the demand for black box data, the families raised concerns over difficulties in retrieving personal belongings of the victims. Several relatives claimed that phone calls and emails to authorities often went unanswered. Some family members said they were not comfortable communicating through email alone and wanted functional helplines for assistance. Others highlighted the emotional distress involved in identifying belongings among the nearly 23,000 items recovered from the crash debris, calling the process overwhelming and insufficiently supported. Despite these concerns, the families acknowledged that the stipulated monetary compensation has already been received. However, they emphasized that financial relief cannot replace answers, accountability, or emotional closure, which they said can only come through greater transparency and engagement from the authorities.