Last words of Air India pilot pops up as 241 dies in tragic plane crash

Air India Pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal

The tragic Air India plane crash that occurred on June 12, 2025, claimed the lives of 241 people, leaving only one survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, sent out a distressing mayday call just moments before the crash, highlighting technical issues with the aircraft.

Captain Sabharwal's final transmission to air traffic control was a chilling "Mayday... no thrust, losing power, unable to lift," indicating the plane's struggle to gain altitude due to insufficient thrust.

This occurred just 11 seconds after takeoff, leaving the crew with little chance to prevent the disaster.

The flight, Air India flight 171, was bound for London Gatwick Airport and had 242 people on board, including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and a Canadian, as well as two pilots and 10 cabin crew members. Captain Sabharwal had 8,200 hours of flying experience and was assisted by co-pilot Clive Kunder.

The aircraft crashed at an altitude of 625 feet, according to Flightradar24. Several videos posted on social media showed the plane rapidly losing altitude before hitting a building and exploding into a ball of fire.

The exact reason for the crash remains unknown, with investigations ongoing to determine the cause of the technical issues that led to the tragedy.

The incident has sparked widespread shock and grief, with many paying tribute to the victims and their families.