Air India Boeing 787 Crashes After Mayday Call at 825 Feet: What We Know About the Tragic Final Minutes
Tragic Crash of Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner After Mayday Call
A devastating aviation disaster unfolded when Air India Flight #AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Registration: VT-ANB), crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Gatwick Airport. The aircraft, carrying 212 passengers and 30 crew members, lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) after issuing a Mayday distress call—marking one of the deadliest aviation accidents in recent Indian history.
Flight Details and Critical Timeline
- Takeoff Time: 1:39 PM local time (08:09 UTC) from Runway 23
- Signal Lost: At 08:08 UTC (13:38 local time) at just 625 feet altitude
- Maximum Altitude Reached: 625 feet (airport elevation: ~200 feet)
- Rapid Descent: Vertical speed of -475 feet per minute before crash
- Distress Call: Pilots declared “Mayday” at 825 feet, followed by silence
Pilot Experience and Final Moments
The flight was under the command of:
- Captain Sumeet Sabharwal – 8,200 hours of flight experience
- First Officer Clive Kundar – 1,100 hours of flight experience
Despite their expertise, the aircraft failed to gain altitude, leading to a catastrophic descent. Aviation experts suggest possible causes such as engine failure, aerodynamic stall, or instrumentation malfunction, though an official investigation is underway.
What is a Mayday Call?
A Mayday call (derived from French “m’aidez” meaning “help me”) is the highest-level aviation emergency signal, declared three times in life-threatening situations. It triggers immediate ATC priority and activates emergency response protocols.
DGCA’s Emergency Response Protocol
Following the Mayday alert, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) executed its emergency response measures:
- Emergency Phase Declaration: DETRESFA (Distress phase) activated.
- ATC Coordination: All other air traffic cleared, emergency services alerted.
- ARFF Deployment: Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) units rushed to the crash site.
- Multi-Agency Mobilization: Police, medical teams, and NDRF deployed.
- Black Box Recovery: Flight Data Recorder (FDR) & Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) retrieval initiated for investigation.
Aircraft History
- First Flight: December 14, 2013
- Delivered to Air India: January 2014
- Total Operational Years: 10 years
Ongoing Investigation
The DGCA and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are analyzing ADS-B data, ATC communications, and black box recordings to determine the exact cause. Early speculation includes mechanical failure or sudden loss of thrust, but no official conclusions have been released.
This tragedy has reignited discussions on aviation safety, pilot training, and emergency preparedness in India’s civil aviation sector.
