Decoding Mayday: A Comprehensive Look at the Global Distress Signal

In May 2020, the captain of Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK 8303 declared a technical malfunction and issued the urgent "mayday" call. "Both engines have failed. Mayday, mayday, mayday," were the final words of the pilot, as reported by Business Insider. Tragically, 97 lives were lost.

Although the term is widely recognized, its origins and significance remain unclear to many. This article delves into the meaning of mayday and traces the history of this critical distress signal.

Deciphering the Global Distress Call: Mayday

"Mayday!" serves as a universal emergency signal utilized by aviators, maritime captains, and certain first responders. Annually, the U.S. Coast Guard handles approximately 25,000 emergency calls, many of which include this well-known distress signal.

The Birth of a Universal Air Emergency Signal

This signal emerged shortly after World War I, when air travel between Britain and continental Europe surged. There was a pressing need for a globally recognized distress call to notify authorities of critical aviation issues.

Why Wasn't "SOS" Chosen?

Why not stick with the traditional "SOS" signal employed by naval captains for emergencies? Ships relied on telegraphs and Morse code, which made "SOS" (three dots, three dashes, three dots) easily identifiable. However, pilots communicated via radio, and "SOS," with its consonant-heavy structure, could be confused with other letters, such as "F."

The Birth of the Mayday Signal

Frederick Stanley Mockford, a senior radio officer based in London, was tasked with identifying an effective distress signal. Recognizing the significant air traffic between Croydon and Le Bourget Airport in Paris, he proposed using a term derived from the French language.

He introduced "mayday," derived from the French phrase "m'aider" (meaning "help me"), which is a shortened form of "venez m'aider," or "come help me." The United States officially recognized "mayday" as a radiotelegraph distress signal in 1927.

To combat radio interference and background noise, pilots are instructed to repeat the word three times: "Mayday, mayday, mayday." This repetition also aids radio operators in differentiating the distress call from other communications that might mention the term casually.

Even in moments of high stress, the Federal Aviation Administration advises pilots to communicate critical details in a specific sequence, ensuring emergency responders fully understand the situation:

Due to its critical nature, the mayday signal is treated with utmost seriousness and is reserved for genuine emergencies. Unfortunately, the Coast Guard sometimes encounters false alerts, primarily because the VHF radio signals used for distress calls are difficult to trace.

This misuse can lead to the squandering of hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours on rescue missions for non-existent emergencies. Those who exploit this system face penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000.