The Air India pilot’s last words moments before the aircraft crashed to the ground have been revealed, painting a tragic picture of the events leading up to the disaster. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of Air India Flight AI-171, issued a desperate Mayday call, signaling the most severe emergency in aviation. The call was made just moments before all contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) was lost ¹.

The Mayday Call

The pilot’s final communication with ATC was a Mayday call, which is internationally recognized and requires repetition three times for clarity and priority handling. Captain Sabharwal’s call marked the beginning of the end of the flight, and despite repeated efforts from ATC to reconnect, there was no further response from the cockpit.

Last Words Revealed

According to reports, Captain Sabharwal’s last words were: “Mayday […] no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.” These words suggest that the pilot was struggling to maintain control of the aircraft, and the situation was dire. The pilot and co-pilot, Clive Kunder, likely attempted to regain control of the plane, but unfortunately, it crashed into a medical college hostel, resulting in catastrophic consequences ².

The Crash

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed into the densely populated Meghani Nagar neighborhood just five minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport. The impact and subsequent fire caused extensive damage, and emergency responders rushed to the scene to launch a rescue operation. Unfortunately, there were no survivors among the 241 passengers and crew members on board, although one British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash ³ ².

Investigation and Aftermath

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the cause of the tragedy. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is closely examining the flight’s final moments and recovering the flight recorders. The incident has sparked grief and condolences worldwide, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing the event as heartbreaking ¹ ³.

Response and Support

Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran has expressed his commitment to assisting all affected individuals and their families. Emergency centers and support teams have been activated to provide necessary support and care to those impacted. The Indian Army has also deployed teams to help clear debris and treat the injured ¹.