The world is still reeling from the crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that plummeted into a neighborhood just two kilometers after takeoff. But now, the final transmission from the cockpit has surfaced—and it’s as harrowing as the tragedy itself.
The aircraft took off from Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM, bound for London, with 242 people on board. Only one passenger survived. The plane struck the densely populated Meghaninagar area, igniting a fire that killed at least 24 people and left others injured both on board and on the ground.
See also: India Plane Crash May Have Had a Warning—Passenger Filmed Strange Issues Before Takeoff
The Last Words From the Cockpit of the Air India Crash
While investigations are still ongoing, The Mirror released the transcript of the plane’s last mayday call—a distress signal that cuts through air traffic control frequencies with one chilling purpose: to announce an impending catastrophe.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday. No thrust. Losing power. No power. Unable to climb.”
That’s what Captain Sumeet Sabharwal said in those final moments, fighting to stabilize the aircraft with the help of his co-pilot, Clive Kundar. Together, they attempted to regain control for 17 seconds. Sabharwal had over 8,200 flight hours. Kundar had 1,100. Neither survived.
The crash destroyed more than a jetliner—it shattered families. Captain Sabharwal’s 82-year-old father later told reporters that just before the flight, his son had promised to take a break from flying to spend more time with him.
He never got the chance.
See also: The Only Man Who Walked Away: Survivor of India Plane Crash Was in Seat 11A
This article was originally written in Spanish by Carla Martell in Cultura Colectiva.
