'Mayday...No Power': Air India Flight 171 Pilot's Haunting Last Message To Ahmedabad ATC
Just seconds before the Air India AI 171 crash, pilot Sumit Sabharwal issued a desperate Mayday call to Ahmedabad ATC, reporting total engine failure and loss of thrust
Days after India witnessed one of its deadliest aviation disasters, a chilling audio message has emerged from the cockpit of Air India Flight AI-171. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least 274 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground.
Just moments before the aircraft plunged into the residential quarters of a medical college in Meghaninagar, senior pilot Captain Sumit Sabharwal sent a brief distress call to the Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control (ATC).
'MAYDAY… MAYDAY… MAYDAY… NO POWER… NO THRUST… GOING DOWN…"
The aircraft had taken off around 1.30 pm for London Gatwick with 242 people on board—230 passengers, 10 cabin crew members, and 2 pilots. Only one passenger, an Indian-origin British national, is confirmed to have survived. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was travelling on the flight.
After losing altitude rapidly, the plane crashed into a hostel building, killing several medical students and local residents. Plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the site, and a massive rescue operation was launched.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced the formation of a high-level multi-disciplinary panel to investigate the cause of the crash. The committee will review the circumstances surrounding the incident, assess standard operating procedures, and recommend any necessary safety reforms.
First Published:
June 14, 2025, 11:44 IST
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