Air India Flight AI-171 Crash: What the Pilot's 'Mayday' Call Meant

prasad prasad
Jun 13, 2025 - 12:41 Updated: Jun 13, 2025 - 12:53
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Air India Flight AI-171 Crash: What the Pilot's 'Mayday' Call Meant

On June 12, 2025, the aviation world was rocked by the sudden and tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 shortly after its departure from Ahmedabad. Among the many questions that arose in the aftermath, one stood out: what exactly is the “Mayday” call that the pilot issued moments before the disaster? In this post, we’ll walk through the timeline of events, explore the history and protocol behind the Mayday distress call, and reflect on its critical role in aviation safety.

Flight AI-171: Timeline of Events
  


  1. Departure:

    • Time & Place: Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) in Ahmedabad at 1:39 PM IST.

    • Route: Scheduled nonstop service to London Gatwick (LGW), carrying 232 passengers and 12 crew members.

  2. The Mayday Call:

    • Timing: Approximately five minutes after liftoff, while still climbing through a few thousand feet.

    • Communication: Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) transmitted “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” to Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control, declaring a life-threatening emergency on board.

  3. Loss of Contact & Crash:

    • Silence: Following the distress call, all radio contact with AI-171 ceased.

    • Impact: The aircraft descended uncontrollably and impacted a residential area in Meghani Nagar, erupting into a fireball that sent shockwaves through the neighborhood.

      What Is a Mayday Call?



















    • Definition: “Mayday” is the internationally recognized spoken distress signal in aviation (and maritime) to indicate a severe emergency requiring immediate assistance.

      • Origin of the Term:

        • Coined in the early 1920s by Frederick Stanley Mockford at London’s Croydon Airport.

        • Derived from the French phrase “m’aider”, meaning “help me.”

        • Formally adopted in 1927 alongside the SOS Morse code.

          How Mayday Protocol Works:

          When a pilot declares “Mayday”:

          • Air traffic immediately clears the frequency for emergency use.

          • The pilot provides details: aircraft ID, location, nature of emergency, and number of people on board.

          • Ground control mobilizes emergency services and coordinates potential rescue or landing support.

            Why It Matters:

            • Universal Clarity: One word, recognized globally, ensures fast action.

            • Rapid Response: Helps ATC prioritize emergency handling.

            • Safety Training: Embedded in flight crew drills for swift, instinctive reaction.

              Reflecting on the Ahmedabad Crash

              The tragic loss of Flight AI-171 underscores both the strengths and limitations of even the most rigorously tested safety procedures. While the Mayday call succeeded in alerting ground controllers to a critical situation, the unprecedented speed and severity of the aircraft’s malfunction left little time for corrective action or diversion.

              In the coming months, accident investigators and aviation regulators will analyze flight data recorders and cockpit voice recordings to determine precisely what went wrong. Meanwhile, the aviation community will once again review emergency protocols, aiming to refine training and technology so that the next distress call can be met with even greater effectiveness.