Explained: What Is 'Mayday' And Why It's Used In Emergencies

On June 12, an Air India flight carrying 242 passengers, en route to London, crashed near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that the pilot of the ill-fated Air India flight AI-171 issued a Mayday call just moments after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. It's a call that no airplane pilot or ship's captain ever wants to make. "Mayday" is an internationally recognised distress signal used in radio communications, and it is vital in both aviation and maritime operations. "Mayday" is used in extreme emergencies when human lives or the safety of an aircraft or vessel are in immediate danger. As the most urgent distress signal, it indicates a life-threatening situation that requires immediate assistance and priority attention.