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“Thrust not attained. plummeting. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” were the final words from the cockpit of Air India Flight 171, just before the aircraft crashed near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12, 2025, a Times of India report quoted Ahmedabad police remembering the pilot’s call.
The voice call was picked up by air traffic control (ATC) just seconds before communication ceased. Senior officials said the plane was about to complete the airport’s 3.5km runway, which generally takes 2.5km to 3km for an aircraft as large as a wide-bodied plane.
“The longer runway roll suggests an element of doubt if the aircraft would have the requisite thrust to take off,” the report quoted a source familiar with the development. “The facts could be known only if the black box is deciphered,” it said.
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No warnings
The report said that no alarms were sounded ahead of time. “There were no requests for changing runways, thrust or flap configurations. Weather was stable, there was clear visibility. Temperature was high, but was within limit of operation,” it quoted an individual familiar with the development.
According to the CCTV footage of the airport, an extended take-off was noticed, while neither radar nor visual anomalies were noticed. There were no engine faults or pitch inconsistencies noticed by ATC or ground personnel. All communication and safety guidelines were adhered to, the report stated.
Officials are now waiting for the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to know what caused the tragic plane crash.
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Air India plane crash
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, with 242 onboard, crashed just after departing from the Meghani Nagar region of Ahmedabad around 1:40 pm, killing 241 passengers aboard.
