- By Aditi Priya Singh
- Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
What Is Mayday Call: Shortly after departing Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers, sent out a Mayday call. Shortly after the distress signal, contact was lost, and the plane tragically crashed close to London Gatwick, where the flight was headed. Mayday calls are essential because they immediately notify rescue services, halt all non-emergency radio traffic, and give priority to the aircraft in distress. The tragedy in Ahmedabad serves as a reminder of how important and prompt a clear Mayday communication is in aviation emergencies.
Here is the detailed explanation about Mayday call in flight and what is use of these emergency calls is during aviation.
What Is a Mayday Call?
In aviation and maritime communications, a Mayday call is the most urgent distress signal. Mayday, which is derived from the French expression "venez m'aider" (which means "come help me"), is only used in cases of life-threatening emergencies that call for prompt assistance.
When a pilot experiences a critical situation, such as an engine failure, a loss of cabin pressure, a fire, or an uncontrollable descent, they transmit a Mayday message to air traffic control (ATC). After saying "Mayday" three times, they provide important information like the flight number, type of aircraft, position, altitude, emergency type, and intentions (such as whether they plan to make an emergency landing or return to the airport). This procedure guarantees that nearby aircraft, rescue crews, and controllers recognise the seriousness of the situation and act quickly and cooperatively.
Why Today's Ahmedabad Crash Highlights the Mayday's Role
On June 12, 2025, less than two minutes after departing Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed for London Gatwick, issued a Mayday call. The distress call was used to notify ATC of a serious in-flight emergency by the 242 crew members, including First Officer Clive Kundar and Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flying hours).
According to Flightradar24's flight tracking data, approximately nine minutes after takeoff, the aircraft abruptly started a rapid descent and vanished from radar after climbing to about 625 feet. Unfortunately, no further communication with the crew was recorded after the Mayday, when the aircraft crashed close to a residential area outside the airport.
Importance of a Mayday Call
The Mayday signal is designed to:
1. Alert rescue services and civil authorities immediately
2. Interrupt non‑emergency traffic on radio channels
3. Prioritise emergency instructions and evacuation assistance
In this case, despite receiving the Mayday, Ahmedabad ATC lost contact with the aircraft a breakdown highlighting challenges in responding to sudden, catastrophic events.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India are conducting a thorough investigation. They will analyze cockpit voice recordings, flight data, and ATC communications to understand the technical and procedural details preceding the crash. Emergency protocols are also being reviewed to improve future response times.