As an investigation into what caused an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to crash shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad continues more details about the flight crew’s mayday call have come to light.
After speaking to Ahmedabad police, the Times of India reported on June 15, 2025, that in their last communication with air traffic control an Air India pilot said: “Thrust not achieved… falling… Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”
On June 13, 2025, video saw Air India flight 171 takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) but appear to lose altitude after a few seconds.
The passenger jet then impacted the campus of Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital, located just a few short miles from the airport, killing 229 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
Indian media has also been reporting that the 787-8 exhausted the entire runway before takeoff.
“The longer runway roll hints at a possibility of the aircraft not having adequate thrust for take-off. The facts can be ascertained only after the black box is decoded,” a source close to the investigation told the Times of India.
On June 14, 2024, in a third public video message the CEO of Air India, Campbell Wilson, confirmed that the airline was in the process of conducting precautionary safety checks on 787 Dreamliners.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to undertake immediate technical inspections of all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fitted with GEnx engines.
Message from Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India. pic.twitter.com/o1wQnReCaG
— Air India (@airindia) June 14, 2025
Air India also announced that it is giving $28,000 to the families of the deceased and to the only survivor of the crash Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. This is in addition to around $115,000 of support already announced by Tata Sons, Air India’s owners.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the crash investigation. A significant breakthrough was achieved with the recovery of the aircraft’s black box on June 13, 2025, around 17:00 local time.
“The decoding process is expected to offer critical insights into the flight’s final moments,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
