Breaking News
Air India Crash: Pilot’s Last Words Reveal Thrust Failure in Ahmedabad Tragedy
Ahmedabad, India, June 17, 2025 – Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed into a doctors’ hostel in Ahmedabad on June 12, moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The pilot’s desperate call—“Mayday! We’re falling!”—marked the start of a tragedy that killed 241 people. Here’s the latest on this heartbreaking event.
The Final Call
The cockpit’s words were chilling:
- Just after lifting off at 1:38 p.m., the crew reported trouble, saying they couldn’t gain thrust or climb.
- A Mayday call went out as the plane reached 625 feet, followed by silence.
- A local witness said, “I heard a loud bang, then saw flames everywhere.”
The plane was in distress from the start.
The Crash’s Toll
The impact was devastating:
- The flight, bound for London Gatwick, carried 230 passengers and 12 crew; only one British man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived.
- The plane slammed into a medical college hostel in Meghani Nagar, killing doctors and staff on the ground.
- Early reports estimate over 250 total deaths, with rescue teams still searching.
The city mourns its losses.
What Went Wrong
Investigators are digging deep:
- The plane took too long to roll down the 3.5 km runway, hinting at engine trouble.
- Both black boxes—the flight data and cockpit voice recorders—were found and are being analyzed.
- Experts point to possible engine failure or fuel issues, as no weather problems were reported.
The cause remains unclear.
Theories and Questions
Experts are puzzled:
- Some suggest a bird strike, common at Ahmedabad’s airport, could have damaged the engines.
- Others wonder if a system error or lack of thrust settings caused the stall.
- An X post read, “Was it the engines or the pilots? We need answers fast.”
The probe is under pressure.
India and World Respond
Action is swift:
- India’s aviation minister ordered safety checks on all Boeing 787s and set up a special safety review team.
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Boeing, and U.S. and UK experts are leading the inquiry.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site, vowing support for victims’ families.
The response is united.
Impact on Boeing
The crash shakes the industry:
- This is the first fatal Boeing 787 crash since the plane’s 2011 debut, raising questions about its engines.
- Boeing’s stock dipped in global markets, reflecting investor worries.
- The company pledged full support to India’s investigation, sending a team to Ahmedabad.
The Dreamliner faces scrutiny.
