Ahmedabad, India (June 12, 2025) — Moments before Air India Flight AI 171 went down, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal issued a chilling distress call: “We’ve lost thrust—no power, we can’t climb.” Those were his final words Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, had just taken off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, bound for London Gatwick, when disaster struck. With Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) at the controls alongside First Officer Clive Kundar (1,100 hours), the aircraft began to falter just 10 seconds after lift-off .

The two pilots fought the controls for 17 agonizing seconds, trying desperately to regain altitude. But the plane descended rapidly and violently, crashing directly into a BJ Medical College hostel block. The impact and explosion devastated the area, leaving a scene reminiscent of a battlefield .

Onboard the flight were 242 individuals: 169 from India, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and eleven children (including two newborns), accompanied by 12 crew members. Tragically, only one passenger survived. British national Viswashkumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, managed to escape with minor injuries. Authorities also confirmed 29 fatalities on the ground, with many more injured.

International aviation teams have launched a comprehensive investigation. Recovery efforts include retrieving and analyzing both flight data and cockpit voice recorders. Preliminary maintenance records suggest the aircraft underwent service in March, and experts are currently considering whether the accident was caused by birds striking the engines or possible wing malfunction .

In summary: Just after takeoff, Captain Sabharwal’s desperate warning—“lost thrust, no power”—marked the beginning of an unthinkable disaster. Despite expert efforts and a thorough probe, the tragedy ultimately claimed nearly 300 lives in one catastrophic afternoon.