Ahmedabad plane crash: How it happened & what is a Mayday call?
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Plane crashes after takeoff
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport crashed soon after takeoff. The crash happened between 1 pm and 2 pm, minutes after the flight AI171 left the airport with 242 people on board.
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Plane lost height quickly
The plane reached about 825 feet before suddenly losing height. Videos show the aircraft flying unusually low and struggling to stay in the air before crashing and bursting into flames, likely because it had a full fuel load for the long trip.
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Who was the flight Captain?
The flight was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an experienced pilot with 8,200 flying hours. He was assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of experience. The flight had 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
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What is a Mayday Call?
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot sent a ‘Mayday’ distress signal but did not contact air traffic control again. A Mayday call is an emergency signal used by pilots and sailors to ask for immediate help. It comes from the French words "m'aider" meaning "help me."
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Plane hit a Medical College hostel
The plane crashed into a doctors' hostel linked to BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. Five medical students, including four undergraduates and one postgraduate, died. Many others were injured. Photos showed food still on tables in the hostel’s dining area.
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Who were on board?
The plane had a total of 242 people on board, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. The flight took off at 1:38 pm from Ahmedabad.
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Rescue operations ongoing
Videos from the crash site show thick grey smoke. Over 20 ambulances were sent, and many injured people were quickly taken to nearby hospitals. Firefighters and medical teams are still working at the scene.