Ahmedabad: Moments before disaster struck, the cockpit of Air India Flight AI171 sent out a chilling “Mayday” distress call, signaling a grave emergency in the air, according to an official statement from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The flight, which had departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick, reportedly encountered severe technical difficulties shortly after takeoff. It was at an altitude of approximately 825 feet when the distress call was transmitted — and then, all communication ceased.

“The crew of AI171 declared a ‘Mayday’ indicating a life-threatening situation,” the DGCA confirmed, adding that radio contact was lost shortly after the transmission. The abrupt silence following the distress signal intensified the urgency of the unfolding situation.

Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched after radar contact with the aircraft was lost. Firefighters, medical personnel, and disaster response units continue rescue operations at the crash site near the airport perimeter, where plumes of black smoke and wreckage remain visible.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the aviation sector and the country at large. Authorities are working to retrieve the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder to determine what led to the catastrophic failure that forced the pilots to make the distress call.

Air India has confirmed that 242 passengers were onboard. The airline and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are coordinating efforts to assist the victims and their families, with a crisis helpline and support centers now active.

As investigations continue, the “Mayday” call remains a grim reminder of the final moments before tragedy engulfed the ill-fated flight.