How do pilots declare an emergency to ATC?

In real-world aviation, pilots declare a distress emergency by transmitting “Mayday” three times; they use “Pan-Pan” three times for an urgent but not immediately dangerous situation. On the active ATC frequency, they then give their callsign, problem, position or altitude, intentions, and the assistance required.

In our Aviation & Real-World Flying guidance, we use the same priority taught in cockpits: aviate, navigate, communicate. Immediate aircraft control, memory actions and terrain avoidance come before a perfect radio transmission.

What should a Mayday call include?

A Mayday call should tell ATC who the pilot is, what has happened, where the aircraft is and what the pilot intends to do.

1. State the distress signal: Say Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. For an urgency condition, substitute Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan.
2. Identify the station and aircraft: Give the ATC unit being called and the full callsign.
3. Describe the problem: Use plain, specific language such as engine fire, loss of thrust, smoke in the cockpit or a seriously ill passenger.
4. State the intention: Tell ATC what the aircraft is doing or needs to do—descending immediately, returning to the airport, diverting or making a forced landing.
5. Give position and altitude: Add the aircraft’s position, level and heading when known. Request vectors if the position is uncertain.
6. Add useful details: Assistance required, persons on board, fuel endurance and dangerous goods can follow when workload permits.

A compact transmission might be: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, [airport] Approach, Golf Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta, engine failure, unable to maintain altitude, 12 miles west at 3,000 feet, landing immediately, two persons on board.

The order does not have to be perfect. If workload is extreme, Mayday, [callsign], engine failure, descending now gives ATC enough to start protecting the aircraft. The controller can ask for the remaining information later.

When should pilots use Mayday or Pan-Pan?

Use Mayday when immediate assistance is required; use Pan-Pan when safety is affected but the situation has not reached serious and imminent danger.

There is no password that ATC can reject on a technicality. Mayday is the internationally recognised distress signal, but a plain statement such as “declaring an emergency” will still be understood. If a Pan-Pan situation deteriorates, upgrade it to Mayday immediately.

“Minimum fuel” is not an emergency declaration and does not automatically provide priority. It advises ATC that the flight cannot accept extra delay. When fuel has reached the applicable distress threshold, the pilot must explicitly declare the emergency using the prescribed wording for that jurisdiction, commonly Mayday fuel.

Which frequency and transponder code should pilots use?

Pilots should normally declare the emergency on the ATC frequency already in use rather than leaving a controller who knows their position and clearance.

If that frequency cannot be reached, the international VHF emergency frequency is 121.5 MHz. A pilot can also try the previous ATC frequency or ask another aircraft to relay the message.

Transponder code 7700 alerts radar controllers to a general emergency. If ATC is already communicating with and tracking the aircraft on an assigned code, retaining that code usually preserves identification; the pilot should follow the controller’s direction rather than changing automatically. When radio contact is unavailable or an unmistakable emergency alert is needed, select 7700. Our guide to the A320 transponder and emergency code 7700 explains how this signalling works in an airliner-style cockpit.

What happens after ATC receives the emergency call?

ATC gives the aircraft priority, separates other traffic and coordinates whatever assistance the situation requires.

The controller may offer headings, a suitable runway, weather, airport information and emergency services. Expect questions about persons on board, fuel endurance, aircraft condition and dangerous goods, but the pilot may answer standby if occupied with the aircraft. Our overview of ATC’s responsibilities and assistance to pilots provides the wider context.

A pilot does not need permission to declare an emergency. Safety action also does not wait for a new clearance: the pilot in command may deviate as necessary under the applicable operating rules, state what the aircraft is doing and say unable to any unsafe instruction. ATC can treat a flight as an emergency even if the pilot never says Mayday.

What if a pilot cannot reach ATC?

If ATC does not answer, the pilot should continue flying the safest course while trying alternate ways to signal the emergency.

1. Check the radio setup: Confirm the selected COM radio, active frequency, audio-panel selection, volume and push-to-talk switch. A wrong audio selection can resemble total radio failure.
2. Transmit blind: Send the emergency message on the active and previous frequencies even without hearing a reply.
3. Try 121.5 MHz: Call on the emergency frequency and ask another aircraft to relay if one responds.
4. Select the appropriate transponder code: Use 7700 for a general emergency. Code 7600 indicates communications failure without another overriding distress condition.
5. Keep broadcasting intentions: Position, altitude, route and landing plans help ATC protect the airspace even when two-way communication is impossible.

Common emergency-call mistakes

• Waiting too long: An emergency can be cancelled or downgraded after the aircraft is stable. Delaying the declaration deprives ATC of time to clear traffic and prepare assistance.
• Giving a long explanation first: The callsign, problem and immediate intention matter more than a detailed history.
• Changing frequency unnecessarily: The controller already handling the flight usually has the best radar and clearance information.
• Using Pan-Pan to avoid causing trouble: If immediate assistance is needed, Mayday is the correct call. Emergency priority exists for safety, not punishment.
• Trying to satisfy every ATC request: Aircraft control comes first. Use standby or unable when cockpit workload or safety demands it.