**Tragedy Strikes as Air India Flight AI171 Crashes Seconds After Take-off: Pilots’ Final Moments Revealed**
The world has been left in mourning following the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI171, which departed from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat on 12 June 2025. In a disaster that claimed the lives of 241 people, only one individual survived, as the nation grapples with the aftermath of one of the deadliest air crashes in recent memory.
Authorities have now released photographs of the pilots at the helm during those final, fateful moments. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a highly experienced aviator with 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had accumulated 1,100 flight hours, were in charge of the aircraft when the tragedy occurred. Their desperate attempt to save the flight and its passengers was marked by a chilling mayday call sent just moments after take-off.
Flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad’s runway 23 at 1:39 pm local time, soon after which the crew radioed an urgent distress signal. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all contact with the aircraft was subsequently lost, despite repeated attempts to re-establish communication. Data provided by flight tracking services such as Flightradar24 corroborated the loss of signal almost immediately after departure.
As the gravity of the situation unfolded, Captain Sabharwal’s voice echoed through the airwaves: “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.” This harrowing message, broadcast with urgency, provided the first indication of severe mechanical or engine issues with the 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
Eyewitnesses in Meghani Nagar, a densely populated neighbourhood situated only 1.5 miles from the runway, recalled a deafening crash as the aircraft plunged to the ground. The impact was devastating, with wreckage strewn across residential streets and a fireball visible for miles. Emergency services swiftly arrived on the scene but could do little in the face of such extensive destruction.
Air India confirmed that 242 people were on board the ill-fated flight, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Of the passengers, the majority were Indian nationals, while others hailed from the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada. In a rare reflection of hope amidst tragedy, only Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen of Indian descent, was pulled alive from the wreckage. He is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital.
In a statement posted online, Air India expressed its deep sorrow over the incident: “Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed with 230 passengers and 12 crew. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in hospital. Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones.”
As the investigation gets underway, Air India has set up hotlines for relatives seeking information, and teams of counsellors have been deployed to support grieving relatives in Ahmedabad. The airline has stated its full cooperation with authorities as they work to uncover the precise cause of the disaster.
The crash marks a sombre milestone as the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner reported in the Aviation Safety Network’s database. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has responded with a promise to work closely with Indian investigators to determine what went wrong in the critical moments after take-off.
This tragedy has sparked memories of previous air disasters across India, notably the 2020 Air India Express incident that claimed 21 lives, and the nation’s worst airline accident in 1996, where a midair collision near Charki Dadri resulted in 349 deaths.
As families, aviation professionals, and the wider public absorb this heart-breaking news, the focus now turns to supporting survivors, investigating the tragedy, and striving to prevent future tragedies in Indian and global aviation.