The tragedy associated with the Air India crash is beyond words to describe. As details continue to come out about the loss, it just seems as if there will always be more to the story.

One of the events that took place just prior to the crash is what the pilot reportedly said in the moments before the plane went down. He said it shortly before the Air India flight crashed only minutes after takeoff from India’s Ahmedabad Airport on June 12.

The flight was on its way to London Gatwick and if all had gone as planned, it would’ve touched down approximately 6:25 PM local time. Unfortunately, the flight would only make it about 625 feet in the air before it crashed into the ground just 4 miles from the airport.

The airline reports that there were 242 passengers and crew members on board. They said: “Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.”

All souls on board perished in the flight except one, a 40-year-old British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. He was able to walk away, despite having some impact injuries.

According to Kanan Desai, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, 265 bodies have been recovered so far. This includes some who died on the ground. It may be possible for the number to increase as the rescue efforts are ongoing.

They have not yet determined the cause of the crash, although it is being investigated. They expect more details to be forthcoming in the following days.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder were the two pilots who were flying the plane at the time of the crash. According to India’s aviation regulator, a call came in to air traffic control but the plane didn’t respond to a reply.

According to reports, the captain called out: “Mayday […] no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”

It is thought that the pilots then tried to get control of the plane but it would eventually crash into a medical college hostel.

The chairman of Air India, Natarajan Chandrasekaran referred to the ‘tragic accident’ and offered his condolences.

He said: “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India flight, AI171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.

“At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.

“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families.”