Final Words From the Sky: 'No Power… No Thrust… Going Down…'

National News: As India mourns one of its deadliest aviation disasters, horrifying details have emerged from the cockpit of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Bound for London Gatwick, Flight AI-171 took off from Ahmedabad at around 1:30 PM on June 12, 2025. Within seconds, the aircraft spiraled out of control and plummeted onto a hostel building at a medical college in Meghaninagar, killing not only all 241 people onboard—including 229 passengers and 12 crew—but also 33 civilians on the ground. The most haunting clue to what went wrong came from a voice message recorded just seconds before impact. In the now-confirmed ATC audio, senior pilot Captain Sumit Sabharwal’s panicked voice crackles through: “Mayday… Mayday… Mayday… No power… No thrust… Going down…”

A Catastrophic Failure in the Air

Initial investigations suggest a catastrophic twin-engine failure during the aircraft’s initial climb. Sources close to the DGCA say the aircraft lost both engine power and thrust almost instantly, leaving the pilots with no time for recovery. While Boeing’s Dreamliner is known for its advanced safety protocols and redundancy systems, this kind of total power loss is virtually unheard of in commercial aviation. Experts suspect a possible fuel system contamination or sabotage, although no definitive cause has been confirmed. The black box and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and are currently being analyzed by a high-level committee formed within hours of the crash.

Death and Destruction on the Ground

The plane’s direct collision with the hostel building led to widespread destruction on the ground. Emergency responders say body recovery took over 24 hours, with several remains charred beyond recognition. Most of the medical students inside the hostel were in their rooms preparing for mid-year exams. This crash site now stands as a reminder not only of technical vulnerability but also of how a few seconds can devastate hundreds of lives. Visuals from the ground showed fireballs, crushed concrete, and scattered belongings—scenes described by survivors as “hell raining from the sky.”

High-Level Probe, Global Attention

The Government of India has called for an urgent international-level probe involving Boeing, DGCA, and independent aviation bodies. Civil Aviation Minister Raghav Sinha stated, “This is not just an accident. It’s a national tragedy. We owe answers to the families and the country.” Air India has grounded its entire Dreamliner fleet until full safety checks are complete. Boeing has yet to issue a formal statement, but international watchdogs are closely monitoring the developments.