The pilot of the Air India crash frantically warned the plane was ‘losing power’ just moments before it crashed into a building, killing at least 260 people. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plunged into the busy suburb just seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport this morning, claiming the lives of all but one passenger. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience, desperately cried ‘Mayday…no thrust, losing power, unable to lift’ before the aircraft went down and hit a residential property. Miracle British survivor Vishwashkumar Ramesh remembers ‘a loud noise…then the plane crashed’.
| Published June 13, 2025
In a tragedy that has shocked the world, new audio has emerged revealing the final mayday call made by Air India Flight AI 171’s pilot—mere seconds before the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner slammed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, killing over 260 people.
The flight, which took off at 1:38 PM IST en route to London Gatwick, lasted less than a minute before plummeting into the BJ Medical College hostel in Meghani Nagar, a densely populated neighborhood near the airport’s exit path.
🗣️ “Mayday, Mayday — We Have Control Failure”: Final Cockpit Words
Audio obtained from air traffic control confirms that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran with over 8,000 flight hours, issued a mayday call just seconds after takeoff. In the panicked transmission, he can be heard saying:
“Mayday, mayday — Flight AI 171 — experiencing abnormal lift… we have control failure… flaps not responding.”
Within seconds, the transmission cuts off. Eyewitnesses on the ground reported the aircraft appeared to struggle to gain altitude before dipping to the left and crashing.
🧩 Experts Suspect Flap or Gear Malfunction
Early crash site photos and witness accounts have intensified concerns among aviation experts about a possible flap misconfiguration or mechanical issue during liftoff. Analysts reviewing footage from bystanders noted the landing gear appeared extended, and wing flaps didn’t look fully deployed—a crucial factor for safe lift-off in large aircraft.
“The 787 should not be in the air with gear down and flaps neutral unless in an emergency. Something was clearly wrong from the start,” said retired pilot and aviation analyst Captain R.S. Menon.
The flight was operating with tail number VT-ANB, and had undergone routine maintenance two weeks prior, according to Air India officials.
📦 Black Box Search Underway
Investigators from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), assisted by the UK AAIB and U.S. NTSB, confirmed they have recovered one of the aircraft’s two black boxes—believed to be the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).
Search teams are now combing the wreckage for the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which could confirm suspected flap and gear errors, engine status, and pilot input.
👥 Who Was Onboard?
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Total people onboard: 242 (230 passengers, 12 crew).
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Passenger demographics: A mix of Indian nationals, expatriates, and foreign travelers—including students, families, and business-class flyers.
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At least four British citizens, one American, and two German nationals were confirmed among the passengers.
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Early reports indicate that dozens of medical college staff and students were inside the hostel building the plane struck.
🧍♂️ Miraculous Survivor
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A male passenger in Seat 11A, identified as British national Thomas R. (38), survived with only minor injuries.
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He reportedly crawled out from burning wreckage, guided by locals before first responders arrived.
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“I don’t know how I lived,” he told reporters, visibly shaken and with soot-covered clothing.
Passangers’ luggage lies at the crash site after the plane, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed during take-off from Ahmedabad Airport
A video posted to social media appeared to show the plane descending in a controlled manner with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed
The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon
🌍 National and Global Reactions
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “a national catastrophe,” while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed their condolences. Former UK PM Rishi Sunak also described it as “one of the darkest days in modern aviation.”
💷 Compensation and Response
Air India, owned by Tata Group, is offering:
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Full financial compensation to victims’ families
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Medical support and trauma counseling for survivors and relatives
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Dedicated hotlines and grief centers in Ahmedabad, London, and Lisbon
Airport authorities have confirmed that Ahmedabad Airport has resumed operations at limited capacity, while a full internal review of emergency response systems is underway.
🔍 What’s Next?
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Recovery of the second black box remains a top priority.
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A preliminary report from AAIB is expected within weeks.
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Boeing may issue fleet-wide inspection advisories, especially for 787s with similar service profiles.
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Legal action and international regulatory reviews are anticipated.
📋 Aircraft & Crew
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Aircraft Model: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner.
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Tail Number: VT‑ANG (entered service in 2017).
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Flight crew: Highly experienced pilots — the captain had over 9,000 flight hours, and the first officer had 4,300 hours.
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Maintenance status: Cleared for flight the same morning; no active technical defects were reported prior to takeoff.
🚨 Emergency Response
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Crash site: B.J. Medical College hostel complex, 0.9 miles from runway end.
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Initial responders: Airport Fire & Rescue, Ahmedabad Fire Brigade, and the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force).
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Firefighters battled intense flames for over two hours due to the large volume of jet fuel.
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Local civilians helped pull survivors before the fire spread.
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A temporary morgue and triage center were set up at nearby hospitals.
⚠️ Implications & Industry Impact
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This is the first-ever fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its launch in 2011.
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Aviation analysts warn it could shake global confidence in 787 systems if a design flaw is discovered.
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May prompt new regulations around pre-flight checks, flap deployment verification, and bird-strike mitigation near airports.
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Investigators from the NTSB (U.S.), UK AAIB, and DGCA (India) are closely monitoring.
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Potential grounding or inspections of Dreamliners could follow, pending black box results.
🧾 Conclusion
The crash of Air India Flight AI‑171 is a sobering reminder of how swiftly tragedy can unfold—even aboard one of the world’s most advanced aircraft. In under a minute, a seemingly routine takeoff turned catastrophic due to a suspected combination of mechanical failure, improper takeoff configuration, and possible engine thrust loss. The impact not only claimed over 200 lives but also left a scar on a residential community and reignited global scrutiny over airline safety protocols.
While the miraculous survival of one passenger offers a sliver of hope, families now mourn, investigators search for answers in black box recordings, and the aviation world awaits findings that could shape future regulations. Until then, questions linger: What exactly caused the engines to lose thrust? Why were the flaps up? Could it have been prevented?
The coming weeks will be critical—not just for justice and closure—but for preventing another tragedy of this magnitude.
SOURCES: DAILY MAIL ONLINE – Revealed: Air India pilot’s desperate mayday call seconds before devastating crash as experts raise fears wing flaps ‘didn’t look right’ amid hunt for second black box
THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Over 200 Onboard Crashes in Residential Area After Takeoff (VIDEO)
THE TIMES – Air India plane crash latest: Briton is sole survivor, airline confirms
THE NEW YORK POST – Air India plane carrying 242 people crashes soon after taking off from Indian city, police say
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