In a tragic incident near Ahmedabad, India, an Air India flight suffered a catastrophic crash shortly after takeoff. The ill-fated journey was headed for London, but met with disaster minutes into the flight, claiming the lives of 241 passengers and crew on board and causing additional fatalities on the ground. In one of the country’s most severe aviation accidents, emergency crews continued their search into Friday evening, recovering more bodies from the wreckage.
The aircraft involved, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, marked its first crash since entering service in 2009, according to aviation records. The sole survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh—a British national of Indian descent—narrated his harrowing experience from a hospital bed. As the plane took off, Ramesh described a sensation of being suspended midair, followed by a series of flashing green and white lights. Despite the aircraft’s acceleration, it failed to gain altitude, colliding with a residential building housing a medical college.
Ramesh recounted the devastating loss of lives, including that of his brother, who was traveling with him. Occupying seat 11A, Ramesh miraculously found himself on the ground floor of the impacted structure. After unfastening his seat belt, he mustered the strength to escape through an open door amid the chaos. “When I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive,” recalled Ramesh, vividly remembering the scattered plane fragments around him.
Suffering burns on his left hand, Ramesh wandered in a state of shock until local residents helped him secure medical attention. He managed to contact his family moments after the incident. His brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, shared that Ramesh had phoned their father to inform him of his survival. Unable to account for his traveling brother, Ramesh expressed confusion over his own escape and the absence of other survivors.
Relatives in Leicester, England, also received a call post-crash, with cousin Ajay Valgi noting that Ramesh’s brief message reassured them of his safety. Despite relief at his survival, the family deeply mourns the loss of Ramesh’s brother. Ramesh’s immediate family, including his wife and young son, experience a mix of gratitude for his safety and sorrow for their bereavement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally visited both the crash site and the hospital where Ramesh is recovering. Ramesh shared his account of the accident with the Prime Minister, who expressed concern for the survivor’s well-being. Medical staff, led by Dr. Dhaval Gameti, reported that Ramesh, though disoriented with multiple injuries, is in stable condition and nearing discharge.
Doctors are optimistic about Ramesh’s recovery, as he remains under observation. His extraordinary survival story stands out amid a tragedy that has gripped the nation and left countless families grieving.