Air India pilot gave Mayday call to Ahmedabad ATC before crash, says DGCA
Ahmedabad (PTI): Soon after the takeoff, the pilot of ill-fated Air India aircraft gave a Mayday call to the Ahmedabad air traffic controller.
However, thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC, aviation regulator DGCA said in a statement.
At around 2 pm, the London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. Several casualties are feared.
The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar, DGCA said. Capt Sumeet Sabharwal is a LTC with 8200 hours of experience. The co-pilot had 1100 hours of flying experience.
As per ATC, the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from Runway 23. It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC, according to the DGCA statement.
The aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23 fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter, it said adding heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site. The Boeing aircraft, which could be seen losing altitude quickly, crashed in Meghaninagar area near the airport.
“On Jun 12, 2025, Air India B787 Aircraft VT-ANB while operating flight AI-171 from (Ahmedabad to Gatwick) has crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 persons on board the aircraft consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew,” DGCA said in the statement.
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Designed to develop motor skills in students: Physical edu makes debut in NCERT class VIII textbooks
New Delhi: In a move to prioritise fitness and overall well-being, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a new subject—Physical Education and Well Being—for Class VIII students this academic year. This addition comes as part of the NCERT's ongoing syllabus upgrades in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Dinesh Prasad Saklani, NCERT Director, states in the foreword to ‘Khel Yatra’ that it is “meticulously designed to develop motor skills in students and engage children in the team sports of Athletics, Table Tennis and Volleyball,” as reported by The New Indian Express on Tuesday.
The subject is divided into six chapters. Each chapter specifies the warm-up to be done, the activity and the cool-down steps.
The first chapter introduces physical games such as the Horse Vault Race, where students partner up and vault over each other, the Mass Drill which involves synchronised movements, and the Conduction Relay, a creative relay race designed to teach the concept of heat transfer. These activities aim to cultivate both physical strength and teamwork.
In addition to promoting fun, the curriculum also raises awareness on important social issues. For example, the lesson Baraf Pani educates students about the harmful effects of bullying and encourages both victims and bystanders to take action in reducing its impact.
As the curriculum progresses, it delves deeper into more structured sports activities. The Athletics chapter focuses on the technique of sprinting, teaching students the importance of posture, drive, and acceleration. Chapter 4 provides a detailed exploration of Table Tennis, covering aspects like grip, footwork, and forehand and backhand pushes. In Chapter 5, students learn about the essential skills in Volleyball, including passing, serving, spiking, blocking, and digging, with colorful and detailed illustrations for better understanding, the report added.
“Yoga can support us, particularly as we navigate changes and learn to manage our emotions,” states Chapter 6. Students will learn various postures, such as Sukshma Vyayama, Surya Namaskara, asanas (yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises), Pratyahara (sensory control), and Dhyana (meditation).
