An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport in London crashed just after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday with 242 passengers and crew members on board. The DGCA reports that the aircraft had made a MAYDAY call to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) as soon as it took off but did not reply to subsequent calls from the ATC.

Visuals of Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Over 200 were on board, including British, Portugal nationals. pic.twitter.com/FWFiKSr8ZL

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 12, 2025

What Is A MAYDAY Call?

In aviation, a MAYDAY call is a universally recognized distress signal that signifies an urgent emergency in which the aircraft or the people on board are in immediate peril. It is the priority-distress call and comes from the French words “m’aider,” or “help me.” Sent over radio to ATC or surrounding aircraft, it calls for immediate help and priority processing.

In light of the AI171 crash, an Operational Control Room has been activated at the Ministry of Civil Aviation to coordinate all details.

Contact: 011-24610843 | 9650391859

We are committed to swift response and full support to all affected.@RamMNK @mohol_murlidhar
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) June 12, 2025

MAYDAY calls are generally made in emergency situations like engine failure, weather, structure failure, or medical emergencies on board. As soon as a MAYDAY call is received, ATC and concerned authorities give top priority to the aircraft and orchestrate rescue operations and offer ready assistance to contain the crisis.

The cause of the AI171 crash is being investigated by the DGCA, and emergency services are actively deployed at the location in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar. Updates are awaited.