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Authorities confirmed that the pilot issued a desperate Mayday call to Air Traffic Control moments before the crash, reporting a critical in-flight emergency. While the exact cause remains under investigation, early indications suggest a possible mechanical failure.
Flight AI171 departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1:10 p.m. local time. Onboard were 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Just three minutes after takeoff, the captain radioed ATC with a Mayday, signaling a severe problem. Witnesses reported hearing engine sputters and seeing smoke trailing from a wing. Seconds later, the aircraft lost altitude, banked sharply, and disappeared from radar.
