Ahmedabad: 'Thrust not achieved,' 'falling,' 'communication line during this transmission very weak' and finally, 'Mayday,' these chilling final messages from the Air India pilot to Ahmedabad’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) are painting a clearer picture of the moments leading up to Thursday's deadly crash of Flight AI171.
The messages were confirmed by an India Today report, citing a source. The brief, fragmented transmission suggests a sudden and critical failure shortly after takeoff, leading a desperate attempt by the pilots to alert ground control before losing all communication.
241 Killed Out Of 242 People On Ill-fated Plane
The Air India Flight AI171, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:37 pm, carrying 242 people. Just minutes into the flight, the aircraft plummeted from the skies, crashing into a nearby medical hostel. The accident claimed 241 lives on the plane, 230 passengers, 10 crew members and both the pilots, leaving only a single survivor, who is currently in critical condition at a city hospital. With some additional casualties on the ground, the total death toll has now touched over 270.
The specific phrases captured in the final transmission have become the central focus of investigators, indicating a potential thrust or engine failure during takeoff, a critical phase of flight where aircraft have minimal margin for error. The words 'thrust not achieved' and 'falling' suggest the engines may not have produced the required power for lift, while the 'Mayday' call indicates the crew had only seconds to respond before disaster struck.
Black Box Recovered After 28 Hours
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the flight’s black box, located near the tail section of the wreckage, 28 hours after the crash. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed on Friday that the black box data is now being decoded to verify what exactly went wrong in those final moments.
As a precautionary response, all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft in Air India’s fleet will undergo thorough safety inspections beginning Sunday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered advanced checks of critical systems, including fuel, engine and hydraulics and will review all findings before allowing further long-haul operations.
