Ahmedabad: In a chilling glimpse into the final moments of Air India Flight AI-171, reports have surfaced detailing the last desperate communication between the cockpit and Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Ahmedabad, just before the aircraft crashed. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner went down shortly after takeoff, crashing into a hostel building associated with a medical college in the city.
“MAYDAY… MAYDAY… MAYDAY… NO POWER… NO THRUST… GOING DOWN…” were the last recorded words of Captain Sumit Sabharwal, who was commanding the ill-fated flight, according to sources. These words were directed to Ahmedabad ATC as the aircraft lost control mid-air.
Although the contents of the flight’s black box and cockpit voice recordings have not yet been officially released, the information shared so far paints a grim picture of a catastrophic system failure mere moments after liftoff.
The crash has become one of the most devastating air disasters in India’s aviation history. Only one passenger reportedly survived the crash, while all other 241 individuals onboard perished. Several casualties were also reported on the ground due to the location of the crash site.
In response to the tragedy, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched a comprehensive investigation. A high-level, multi-disciplinary committee has been formed to determine the root cause of the incident. The team will evaluate technical issues, procedural adherence, and safety compliance. In addition, officials from various national agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have visited the site to contribute to the ongoing probe.
As investigators work to recover and analyze black box data, grieving families and injured survivors await clarity. Sources have indicated that the pilot’s final messages included urgent phrases such as “Thrust not achieved,” “falling,” “communication line during this transmission very weak,” and “Mayday,” emphasizing the dire situation unfolding in the cockpit in the seconds before the crash.