Air India 171: Understanding the Delay in CVR/FDR Release

YouTube ^ | 06/28/2025 | Captain Steeeve

[TexasKamaAina]

We’re back with another update on Air India 171. In this video, Captain Steeeve breaks down why we still haven’t seen the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) or Flight Data Recorder (FDR) information publicly released.

He explains what a "black box" actually is, what kind of data is stored inside, and how investigators access and interpret that data. From the physical recovery, to the technical decoding, to the careful analysis—it’s a detailed and time-consuming process, and it’s not as simple as plugging in a USB.

Steeeve walks us through each step of the process, including how investigators validate what they’re hearing, compare it to other data sources, and piece together the full picture.

If you’ve been wondering what’s taking so long and why we don’t have more answers yet—this video is for you.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: airindia

[BenLurkin]

I’d still like to know what happened with that air ambulance that crashed in Philadelphia.

[jasonandtheb]

I believe the delay in releasing information means the issues leading to the crash were specific to the airplane that crashed, not to the 787 fleet.

[delta7]

The weak link, Boeing. The NTSB, FAA all are relatively unfamiliar with the detailed systems operations/ interactions. That is why Boeing engineers must be included and with “ honest” answers.

This is a high viz event, $ billions ride on the outcome. Lawsuits, design failures, system failures, FAA AD’s alone could cost Boeing millions to correct if it is a design flaw or a simple component failure…..$ millions more if an emergency AD is issued, all aircraft grounded till fixed.

In any case, we can monitor the FAA website for emergency AD’s, this will be the very first place to look.

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/airworthiness_directives

* I am not accusing Boeing of stonewalling or cover ups, but after their 37 fiasco, they should be watched very closely.

[delta7]

I’d still like to know what happened with that air ambulance that crashed in Philadelphia.
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Go to the FAA website, their accident reports when released are usually very detailed.

[TexasGator]

“Go to the FAA website, their accident reports when released are usually very detailed.”

The FAA does not make accident reports. Please update Socrates.

[VTenigma]

Not confirmed but good pilots think it was spatial disorientation during the change from takoff configuration to flight configuration. The pilot(s) took their eye off the ball and got bit. They were in the deep soup.

[frithguild]

This is a weird one, with the RAT deploying and all. So was there a single engine failure and the function engine shut down by the relatively inexperienced copilot? Before they publish THAT as the cause EVERYTHING has to be gone over. Just my $.02

[SaveFerris]

That doorbell camera video was something else - my goodness

[IndianChief]

So was there a single engine failure and the function engine shut down by the relatively inexperienced copilot?

Air India states that the co-pilots 1100 hours [mentioned everywhere] were in a 787. Overall hours are 3000+ This is from a letter the CEO addressed to all members of their Frequent Flyer programme

Not really inexperienced.

[frithguild]

I stand corrected. Thanks.

[mewzilla]

And/or the Indian government is hiding something.

I wouldn’t rule that out, Captain Steeeve.

[Ex-Con777]

> So was there a single engine failure and the function engine shut down by the relatively inexperienced copilot?<

Maybe one of our 787 Freepers can chime in.

If it is like the 777, the first thing you do in an engine failure is nothing. The airplane takes care of itself by reconfiguring all of the systems. It also has a Thrust Asymmetry Computer that applies 85% of the needed rudder correction to maintain heading. The first real action by the pilots is to raise the gear. Then nothing until reaching an acceleration altitude.

An engine failure is not an emergency. It is treated as an abnormal situation. That’s not to say an emergency is not declared with ATC, which would dictate special handling. It is that the airplane is perfectly capable of flight……FOR HOURS!

EC

[IndianChief]

And/or the Indian government is hiding something. I wouldn’t rule that out, Captain Steeeve.

The delay was caused because the equipment in the Indian regulators' Lab was not suitable to decode the newer Black boxes on the 787 which are have both the CVR and FDR together in 1 unit. The necessary equipment was procured and the data then downloaded.

Air India is no longer a Govt entity and the Govt has no incentive to keep data under wraps. Safer skies are in the governments interest too.