The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12 continues to raise serious questions as investigators piece together what went wrong. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had taken off from Ahmedabad Airport en route to London Gatwick, with an expected arrival time of 6:25 pm local time in the UK. Just minutes after takeoff, however, the aircraft lost control and crashed into a building, resulting in the loss of 241 lives. The sole survivor, 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was seated near an emergency exit and is recovering from multiple injuries. His firsthand account, including a “loud noise” heard shortly after takeoff, has provided key insight into the final moments of the flight.

According to reports, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the flight’s pilot with over 9,300 hours of flying experience, issued a mayday call just 11 seconds after takeoff, citing a sudden loss of engine thrust. This critical transmission is now central to the ongoing investigation into the cause of the disaster. Authorities are analyzing flight data and cockpit voice recordings to understand whether mechanical failure, human error, or another factor led to the crash. Meanwhile, grieving families and the public await further answers, as the crash underscores renewed concerns over aviation safety and maintenance standards. The tragedy has not only devastated the lives of those onboard but also left an international community in mourning, with special attention focused on the experience and decisions made in those final, harrowing moments.