Although there are still many unsolved concerns regarding the tragedy of the Air India crash, the pilot’s alleged pre-disaster remarks have been made public.
On Thursday, June 12, minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in India, an Air India aircraft crashed.
At 6:25 p.m. local time, the AI 171 flight was scheduled to land in the United Kingdom at London Gatwick.
The plane would, however, only ascend only 625 feet before crashing to the earth four miles from the airport runway.
According to the airline, there were 242 passengers and crew members on board. Air India added: “Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.”
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, was the sole person believed to have survived the jet accident.
265 dead have been found so far, including those who perished on the ground, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai. However, as rescue operations continue, this figure could rise.
More information is anticipated in the days ahead as the precise reason of the incident is still being looked into.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder are the two pilots operating the aircraft.
The aircraft sent a mayday call to air traffic control, according to India’s aviation authorities. After that, though, the plane did not respond.
The captain reportedly called out on his radio: “Mayday […] no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”
The plane is thought to have crashed into a medical college dorm as the two pilots tried to take control of it as it sank through the air.
In a lengthy statement, Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed his condolences and described the occurrence as a “tragic accident.”
He said, “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India flight, AI171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”
“At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.”
“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families.”
