Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 14: The final transmission from the cockpit of Air India flight AI-171 was a desperate “Mayday, Mayday,” sent just seconds before the aircraft plummeted from the skies, crashing in a fiery explosion near Ahmedabad and claiming 241 lives in what is now India’s worst aviation tragedy in nearly 15 years.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, fully loaded with fuel, had just taken off from Ahmedabad at 1:39 p.m., but was unable to climb beyond 650 feet before disaster struck — a mere 36 seconds into flight. The last radio message from Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Sundar reached Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control (ATC), but contact was lost almost immediately after.
The aircraft crashed into a student hostel in Medhaninagar, just two kilometres from the airport, engulfing the building and its surroundings in a massive fireball. The Aviation Ministry, confirming the crash, said that 241 people have died, including 230 passengers, 10 crew, and both pilots. At least one person has miraculously survived, and rescue efforts continue at the crash site.
“This is a national tragedy. The aircraft had completed its Paris-Delhi-Ahmedabad leg with no technical faults reported,” said Aviation Secretary S.K. Sinha, adding that the black box has been recovered, a critical step in identifying the exact cause of the crash.
Possible Engine Failure or Bird Strike?
Preliminary assessments suggest a catastrophic loss of thrust, with investigators not ruling out causes such as engine failure or a bird strike shortly after take-off. The Dreamliner, one of the most modern jets in Air India’s fleet, is equipped with advanced safety systems, raising questions about how such a severe failure could occur so quickly after departure.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Over 100 personnel, including 40 aviation engineers, have been mobilised for rescue, investigation, and debris clearance operations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are jointly leading the probe.
“This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stringent pre-flight checks and better safety protocols, especially in densely populated areas near airports,” said an aviation expert involved in the probe.
A Nation in Mourning
The catastrophe has not only shaken the aviation sector but also triggered renewed concerns about flight safety standards in India. The crash is the deadliest since the Mangaluru air crash in 2010, which killed 158 people.
International condolences have poured in, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and meet with victims' families in the coming days.
As families grieve and rescue workers search the rubble, the haunting final call from the cockpit — “Mayday, Mayday” — hangs over a nation demanding answers.