Airborne terror echoes: The ‘Mayday’ distress call

“Mayday… Mayday… Mayday…”
“No power… No thrust… Going down…”

Just a five-second transmission. Pilot Sumit Sabharwal was fighting to stay airborne, desperately trying to keep control of his aircraft. At that critical moment, he managed to send this brief message to air traffic control. Those were his final words. Moments later, the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed—engulfed in flames, smoke, and shattered wreckage. A chilling silence descended upon the skies above Ahmedabad.

The flight had taken off on Thursday morning from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick Airport in the UK. Shortly after takeoff, a mechanical failure occurred. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, was unable to reach cruising altitude. That’s when the pilot issued the urgent distress call—“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.” Within moments, the aircraft nosedived and exploded in a fiery crash. Death and panic spread instantly.

Following the incident, people around the world are once again asking: What exactly is a ‘Mayday call’? Why is it so important? And when is it used?

‘Mayday’ is an internationally recognized emergency distress signal used in aviation and maritime communication when an aircraft or vessel faces life-threatening danger. The term originates from the French phrase “m’aider,” meaning “help me.” It was first proposed in Britain in 1923 and adopted as an international protocol in 1927. The word is always repeated three times—“Mayday Mayday Mayday”—to ensure clarity over radio frequencies and to avoid any misinterpretation.

This distress signal is typically sent by the aircraft pilot or ship captain when the vehicle is in grave danger—complete engine failure, onboard fire, loss of electrical or hydraulic systems, toxic gas leaks, or any situation that poses an immediate threat to life.

Once a ‘Mayday’ call is transmitted, all other communications on that radio frequency are halted. Air traffic control (ATC) treats the signal with the highest level of urgency. The pilot then provides details of their location, the nature of the emergency, and the type of assistance needed. Emergency rescue and response operations are immediately initiated. This protocol is a vital part of emergency response systems in both aviation and maritime industries.

There is also another distress signal called “Pan-Pan,” which is used in less severe emergencies. However, a ‘Mayday’ call signals a critical, life-threatening situation where immediate action is necessary to avoid loss of life. Just like in the Ahmedabad incident—Pilot Sabharwal knew he had only seconds. So, in one final act, he made contact with the ground for the last time.

‘Mayday’ is more than just a word. It is a final plea—a call for life. Behind it lies a pilot’s composure under extreme pressure, technical skill, emotion, and the fight for survival. The Ahmedabad tragedy serves as a grim reminder: even while soaring through the skies, safety is never guaranteed. And within each syllable of an emergency call, the fate of countless lives may hang in the balance.