Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Pilot Issued Mayday Call Before Losing Contact — What It Means and Why It’s Critical
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Pilot Issued Mayday Call Before Losing Contact — What It Means and Why It’s Critical
Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 — The Air India pilot of the ill-fated Ahmedabad–London flight that crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday issued a ‘Mayday’ call before the aircraft lost communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171, took off at 1:39 PM from Runway 23 of Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Within minutes, it crashed near Meghaninagar, just outside the airport perimeter, with 242 people on board, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.
The DGCA said the flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot with over 8,200 flying hours, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of experience.
“The aircraft gave a Mayday call to ATC, but there was no response from the aircraft after that. It crashed immediately after departure,” the DGCA stated.
Visuals from the crash site showed thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage. Multiple passengers were reportedly injured and rushed to city civil hospital. The exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as rescue and investigation efforts continue.
What Is a Mayday Call?
A Mayday call is an internationally recognized distress signal used by aircraft and marine operators to indicate a life-threatening emergency.
Originating from the French phrase “m’aider” meaning “help me,” the term is spoken three times in a row — “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” — to differentiate it from other radio chatter and ensure urgency.
Pilots issue a Mayday in critical situations such as technical failure, loss of control, fire, or other emergencies that put lives at risk. Once a Mayday is declared, air traffic controllers immediately give priority to the aircraft and initiate emergency response protocols.
The circumstances behind the Ahmedabad crash, including why the Mayday call went unanswered, are now under detailed investigation by aviation authorities.
