As of today, Friday, June 13, 2025, the most significant “May Day Air India” event is the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India.
While “Mayday” is a universal distress signal in aviation, its use by the Air India pilot in this tragic event has brought the term into sharp focus.
The term “Mayday” itself is a universally recognized voice distress signal, derived from the French phrase “m’aider” (help me), and is used to indicate a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate assistance.
Pilots use the “Mayday” call when their aircraft is in grave and imminent danger, requiring immediate assistance. It’s the most urgent distress signal in aviation and is reserved for life-threatening emergencies.
Here are some common situations that would warrant a pilot issuing a Mayday call:
- Engine Failure (especially multiple or complete failure)
- Fire Onboard
- Loss of Control
- Structural Damage
- Critical Medical Emergency
- Severe System Malfunctions
- Running out of fuel and cannot make it to an airport.
Here’s what is known about the recent event:
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Flight: Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick.
Crash Location: Ahmedabad, India, shortly after takeoff from Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane crashed into a residential area, including a medical college hostel.
Casualties: 241 of the 242 people on board the flight were killed, along with several on the ground. There was one survivor from the plane.
“Mayday” Call: The pilot issued a “Mayday” call to Air Traffic Control (ATC) moments after takeoff, stating “Mayday no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.” There was no further response from the aircraft after this call
Investigation: An investigation is underway by Indian, US, and UK experts to determine the cause of the crash. One of the black boxes (flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder) has been recovered.
Possible Causes Speculated: Initial speculation includes a “very rare” double engine failure, issues with the plane’s flaps during takeoff, or incorrect weight data.
Impact: This is the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India in over a decade.
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