"We are losing altitude... Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!" These were the last words transmitted from the cockpit of Air India Flight 171 before the Boeing Dreamliner collided with a hostel at B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. Ahmedabad police have confirmed the pilot's distress call, which reached air traffic control (ATC) just seconds before all communications ceased. Senior officials indicated that the jet nearly exhausted the 3.5 km runway at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, which typically requires 2.5 to 3 km for wide-body jets. A source involved in the investigation noted, "The extended runway roll suggests that the aircraft lacked sufficient thrust for takeoff."

"The facts can only be determined after decoding the black box," officials stated.

According to reports, just days after the crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12, investigators have recovered the aircraft's second black box. The cockpit voice recorder has been retrieved, along with the flight data recorder that was previously found. This will assist investigators in determining the cause of the tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of nearly 270 people, including 241 of the 242 passengers on board. Officials informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principal secretary, P.K. Mishra, that the black boxes have been secured. Mishra visited the crash site in Ahmedabad on Sunday and also went to the civil hospital where the injured are being treated.

Earlier, it was reported that the flight data recorder (FDR) had been located. Officials confirmed the recovery of the black boxes to P.K. Mishra. An official statement indicated that Mishra chaired a high-level review meeting to discuss relief, rescue, and investigation efforts with senior officials from the central and state governments, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Airports Authority of India.

The AAIB has initiated a comprehensive investigation, while the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a parallel inquiry under international protocols, as the aircraft was manufactured in the United States. Officials informed Dr. Mishra that both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) have been located and secured. After visiting the crash site, Mishra expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, stating, "I am deeply saddened by the severity of this disaster. Everyone is grieving. It is our duty to share in this sorrow and express our condolences to the victims."