Air India crash: Pilot’s last words unveiled before tragedy

AHMEDABAD: The final moments before the fatal crash of an Air India flight have emerged, shedding new light on the tragedy that killed hundreds. The pilot’s last words, captured in a distress call, have been released by Indian aviation authorities, as the investigation into the crash continues.

The London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat on Thursday, June 12. The plane crashed into a medical college hostel in a densely populated residential area, sparking a fire. The crash killed all but one of the 242 people on board, with at least 29 others on the ground.

According to authorities, the pilot’s last transmission was a desperate cry for help:
“No boost… crashing… Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”

There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board the plane. Air India confirmed that the victims included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national. One passenger miraculously survived the crash and is receiving medical attention.

Authorities have begun the process of identifying and returning the remains of the victims, in what is one of the deadliest air disasters in India’s aviation history. Rajneesh Patel, an official at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, said that 32 victims have been identified so far through DNA testing, and the remains of 14 have been returned to their families.

Outside the hospital morgue, grieving families waited in awe as officials worked to complete the identification formalities. Many expressed frustration at the delay. Officials explained that DNA matching could take up to 72 hours but assured that the process was being expedited.

In response to the disaster, the Indian government has launched a high-level investigation into the causes of the crash. A committee has been set up to determine what went wrong and to develop updated protocols for managing aircraft emergencies.

Key areas under scrutiny include a possible loss of engine thrust, problems with the plane’s flaps, and concerns about the landing gear, which reportedly extended during takeoff.

The civil aviation ministry confirmed that a comprehensive inspection of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet is already underway. Civil aviation minister Rammohan Naidu Kanjarappa announced that eight of the 34 Dreamliners in India have been inspected so far, with the rest to be carried out “with immediate urgency”.

As the investigation progresses, the nation continues to mourn the loss of life and search for answers to prevent such tragedies from happening again.