Air India Flight 171 turned deadly just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s last radio call was chilling: “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift!” Moments later, the Boeing 787 crashed into a crowded neighborhood, killing nearly everyone on board and dozens on the ground.
Captain Sabharwal, a respected pilot close to retirement, had just promised his elderly father he’d take time off soon — a promise he couldn’t keep. “A few days ago, he promised to spend time with his father,” a local politician shared after meeting the grieving family.
TERRIBLE NEWS💔
— Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) June 12, 2025
An Air India plane with 242 passengers onboard crashes in Ahmedabad during takeoff.#planecrash pic.twitter.com/5eWP95lN5t
First Officer Clive Kunder and nine cabin crew members, mostly from Mumbai, also perished. Their families, waiting for calls from London, received devastating news instead. Rescue workers continue searching the wreckage, which struck a medical hostel, injuring students and leaving many missing.
As investigators search for answers — from bird strikes to engine failure — India mourns a tragedy that turned a routine flight into a national heartbreak overnight.
