Photo Credit: BBC
In a deeply unsettling update that has added urgency to the ongoing investigation, India’s Aviation Ministry has revealed that the pilot’s last message was “Mayday” before the ill-fated Air India flight crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday. The announcement confirms earlier suspicions that the aircraft faced a critical emergency within seconds of takeoff.
The revelation that the pilot’s last message was “Mayday” offers a dramatic new dimension to the incident that claimed over 270 lives, including five young MBBS students and several crew members. The Air India Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI-171, was en route from Ahmedabad to Delhi when it crashed just minutes after departure.
Pilot’s Mayday Call: A Cry for Help in the Final Seconds
According to the Aviation Ministry, Air Traffic Control received the emergency call — the universally recognized distress signal “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” — at 1:39 PM IST, only moments after takeoff. Within seconds of that desperate message, the aircraft disappeared from radar and plunged into the vicinity of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, leaving a trail of devastation behind.
The ministry’s confirmation that the pilot’s last message was “Mayday” lends credence to the theory that the crew detected a critical failure — possibly mechanical or systemic — almost instantly. Sources say the plane failed to gain proper altitude and instead hovered at a dangerously low height before nosediving into residential premises.
Ahmedabad Air Crash: What Went Wrong?
The exact cause of the Ahmedabad air crash is yet to be established, but the distress call narrows down the scope of inquiry. Aviation safety experts believe that the Mayday call was likely triggered by sudden loss of thrust, flap failure, or possible miscommunication between flight systems. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash had reportedly passed all safety checks prior to takeoff.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), along with international aviation authorities, is now decoding the recovered black box data to identify what exactly happened in the final 30 seconds. Investigators will scrutinize engine performance, cockpit communication, and flight control inputs during that window of crisis — a window that began with the pilot’s chilling “Mayday”.
Ram Mohan Naidu: “Nothing Will Be Hidden”
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, in his first public briefing after the Ahmedabad air crash, reiterated that no detail would be withheld from the public. “The black box is being decoded, and we are working with Boeing and global experts. The pilot’s Mayday message will be analyzed in full context with flight data and cockpit audio,” he said.
The minister also ordered immediate safety audits of Boeing 787 aircraft across Indian carriers, particularly those operating under Air India’s fleet. “Until we know exactly what caused this tragedy, we will not take anything lightly,” Naidu added.
National and International Reactions
The fact that the pilot’s last message was Mayday has led to an outpouring of sympathy from aviation professionals around the world. Former pilots, airline unions, and aviation think tanks have underscored the importance of rapid response and transparent investigation.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, has dispatched a technical team to assist Indian authorities in analyzing telemetry and control software logs. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory to all airlines to revisit emergency response training protocols.
Families Await Clarity, Nation Seeks Closure
As India mourns the loss of lives in the Ahmedabad air crash, the pilot’s final “Mayday” call serves as both a warning and a call to action. The signal reflects the crew’s last-ditch attempt to save the aircraft and everyone onboard. For the families of the deceased, it represents the harrowing truth that the pilots fought to the end.
What went wrong during those final seconds? The Mayday message may ultimately hold the answer. And as investigators decode the data, one thing is certain — the pilot did what they were trained to do: alert, respond, and attempt to save lives.
