The Air India crash has been the topic of discussion around social media and other media outlets for several days since the tragedy occurred. This is because the horrific nature of the crash has left many people traumatized and full of questions.
Now, some tragic new details have emerged following the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI171, shedding light on the final moments before the aircraft went down in one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history.
The Pilot Made a Distress Call Before the Air India Crash Happened
The new details available to us show that just before the Air India crash happened, the pilot tried to reach out to authorities. According to Indian aviation authorities, the pilot of the Air India Dreamliner issued a desperate Mayday call just moments before the aircraft lost altitude and crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on June 12, 2025.
In a fit of great panic, the pilot radioed in and screamed:
“Thrust not achieved… falling… Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”
Unfortunately, this was the final transmission from Flight AI171’s cockpit. It was after this distress call that the plane crashed into a building and went up in flames, leaving hundreds of people dead.
The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner had barely lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when it crashed into a medical college hostel, igniting a massive fireball.
Out of the 241 individuals on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, only one person miraculously survived. An additional 29 lives were lost on the ground, bringing the total death toll to 270.
READ ALSO: Air India Plane Crash: Identities Of Victims Who Died In The Disaster
The Passenger and Victim Details
Almost 300 people perished because of the tragic Air India crash. Following the tragedy, Air India confirmed that the passengers on board included:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British citizens
- 7 Portuguese nationals
- 1 Canadian citizen
All of the passengers except one person, died. Efforts are underway to identify the victims through DNA analysis. According to Rajneesh Patel, a senior official at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, 32 victims have been successfully identified, and 14 bodies have been released to grieving families.
However, the slow pace of identification has led to growing frustration among relatives waiting outside the hospital mortuary. Many families are beyond desperate to identify the bodies of their loved ones who perished in the crash.
They have refused to leave the hospital gate until they have gotten a hold of the bodies. Also, authorities have been working feverishly to complete all the formalities before transferring the identified bodies in coffins into ambulances.
Patel noted that:
“It typically takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA matching, but we are working to expedite the process.”
How the Government and Air India Have Responded
Following the devastating tragedy, the Indian government and Air India have been under pressure to make the necessary response. Apart from the families of the deceased, sympathizers and stakeholders have called for necessary action to be taken.
And so, in response to the catastrophic Air India crash, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has established a high-level investigative committee to determine the root causes of the accident.
The committee’s objectives include:
- Reviewing flight safety protocols
- Investigating engine thrust and mechanical issues
- Evaluating why the landing gear remained deployed during takeoff
- Examining the aircraft’s flap configuration and takeoff performance
The crash has prompted Air India and government authorities to initiate a thorough safety audit of the airline’s entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. Out of the 34 Dreamliners in service in India, eight aircraft have already been inspected, with the remaining planes scheduled for urgent review.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu emphasized the importance of proactive safety measures, stating,
“These inspections are being conducted with immediate urgency to ensure the safety and reliability of our fleet.”
The Black Box Has Been Recovered as Investigation Advances
Recovery work has been ongoing at the site of the crash since the day the plane came crashing down. In fact, on Friday, investigators recovered the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) — commonly known as the black box — from a rooftop near the crash site.
The data retrieved will play a critical role in reconstructing the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash. The data will also prove to be even more useful in the coming days as more investigation continues to be done.
Aviation experts have noted that the Air India crash marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered commercial service over 16 years ago. With more than 1,200 Dreamliners operating globally, the crash has sent shockwaves through the international aviation community.
The Crash Marked a Dark Day in Indian Aviation History
There is no doubt that the Air India Flight AI171 crash has caused irreparable damage especially to the families of the people who died in the tragedy. It has also caused shock waves around the world with regard to the scale of the disaster.
The crash has now reminded everyone about the great the challenges and risks associated with air travel. It is widely believed that air travel is the safest means of traveling around the world, but this horrific tragedy as well as other air crashes in rent times, have put a dent on that school of thought.
The entire nation of India is mourning, but even as the nation mourns the lives lost and the aviation industry grapples with the tragedy, all eyes are now on the ongoing investigation and the reforms that will follow. It is one of the most anticipated and awaited findings in India at the moment.
And, for the families affected, the pain is immeasurable. There is no amount of the consolation that can quieten the pain they feel at the moment. The accident was sudden, tragic, and deeply horrific. And they will not forget the day of the crash for the rest of their lives.
For the aviation sector, this is such a critical juncture to reassess safety protocols and restore public trust. As expected, Air India has pledged full cooperation with investigators and expressed its deepest condolences to the victims’ families.
