The pilots of Vistara flight UK944 from Mumbai to Delhi on 15 July issued a Mayday call as the flight, diverted from New Delhi to Lucknow due to bad weather, was low on fuel. Mint charts the history of the distress call signal and its relevance today.
What is a Mayday call?
Mayday is a distress call that is used to signal a life-threatening emergency, usually on a ship or a plane, although it may be used in a variety of other situations. A typical distress call will start with the word “Mayday” being said three times in a row so that it is not mistaken for another similar-sounding word or phrase.
