Western aviation regulators in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have reportedly raised concerns about the transparency of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash investigation being led by Indian authorities. According to two sources familiar with the matter, who spoke to Corriere della Sera, there are behind-the-scenes fears that local political pressures could influence the investigation and its final report.
The concerns arose following the handling of the two black boxes, which were not sent to the United States or France, despite both countries’ recognized expertise in this area. Adding to this was the recent rejection of ICAO observers from participating in the investigation.
Concerns Over Black Box Handling
According to Corriere, the primary concern expressed by Western authorities was the way the black boxes were handled. Western sources point out that the labs in India are brand new, having only opened on April 9, 2025. What stands out, however, is India’s decision to extract the black box data locally, rather than sending it to more experienced facilities in France or the US, as is usually done. France recommended its BEA lab, but the proposal was rejected by Indian authorities, as per the report.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered on separate days, one from the rooftop of a building at the crash site on June 13, 2025, and the other from the debris on June 16, 2025, India’s civil aviation ministry announced in a statement on June 26, 2025.
Indian investigators have begun analyzing data from the two black boxes recently recovered from the crash site near the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital complex, where the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed minutes after takeoff. The effort is being led by India’s AAIB, with support from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Adding to the concern is that India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, raising questions about its independence, according to Corriere.
India Reportedly Blocks ICAO Observer From Assisting In The Probe
India has blocked an ICAO observer from assisting in the probe of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on June 27, 2025. In an unusual move, the UN aviation agency offered the assistance of one of its investigators for the crash investigation.
According to Reuters, this is the first time ICAO has requested to be directly involved in an investigation. The last time ICAO investigators assisted in air accident investigations was during cases like the downing of a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777-300ER in 2014 and a Ukrainian International Airlines Boeing 737 in 2020, but in those accidents, the agency was formally invited to assist.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe into the world’s deadliest aviation disaster in a decade. Other authorities helping with the investigation include the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the United Kingdom’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which has the “expert” status in the Indian safety investigation. In accordance with international protocols, release of information on the air crash probe rests solely with the Indian authorities.
In an unusual move, the UN aviation agency offered the assistance of one of its investigators for the crash investigation earlier this week.
More About Flight AI 171
The Air India crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, claimed the lives of 260 people on board the aircraft and on the ground in Ahmedabad. It was the first air crash of its kind involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
One person survived among the passengers on the London-bound 787-8 widebody. The crash claimed 241 lives on board. According to the report, the crash also killed 19 people on the ground. The death toll is lower than the authorities’ earlier estimate of 270, but officials remain cautious about the final count.