Reason Behind the Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad: Pilot’s Distress Call Reveals Shocking Technical Failure

In a tragic turn of events, Air India flight AI-171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, met with a catastrophic crash just moments after takeoff. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 PM on Thursday, plummeted into a hostel complex near Meghaninagar, claiming the lives of over 274 people — including passengers, crew members, local residents, and medical college students.

Pilot’s Last Message to ATC Reveals “No Power, No Thrust”

In a startling revelation, a distress audio message from the cockpit has surfaced, shedding light on the final moments before the aircraft went down. The short but chilling 5-second message, sent by the aircraft’s senior pilot, Captain Sumit Sabharwal, to Air Traffic Control (ATC), reads:
“Mayday… Mayday… Mayday… No power… No thrust… Going down…”

The fear and urgency in the pilot’s voice underline the gravity of the technical malfunction that rendered the aircraft uncontrollable shortly after takeoff. It has now been confirmed that the pilot had sensed a serious technical issue and had attempted to alert the control tower while making desperate efforts to regain control.

Aircraft Failed to Gain Altitude Before Crashing

According to preliminary findings, the Dreamliner experienced a sudden loss of power and thrust during its initial ascent. The aircraft was unable to climb to cruising altitude and began a rapid, uncontrollable descent — ultimately crashing into the hostel building of a nearby medical college. The structure suffered extensive damage, with many students and residents among the deceased.

Prominent Figures Among Victims

Among the casualties was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was on board the ill-fated flight. His untimely death has sent shockwaves through the political and administrative circles of the country.

Black Box Recovered, Investigation Underway

Investigators managed to recover one of the aircraft’s black boxes late Thursday night. Efforts are still ongoing to locate the second flight data recorder and the digital video recorder (DVR), which could provide vital clues about the aircraft’s technical condition and the decisions made by the crew during the final seconds.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has formed a high-level inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the causes of the crash. This expert panel will not only analyze the technical failure but will also assess the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and aviation safety protocols.

As the nation mourns this devastating loss, aviation experts emphasize the urgency of revisiting maintenance practices, aircraft readiness checks, and pilot training protocols — especially for long-haul international routes operated by high-capacity aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.