One Man Survives: Air India Crash Horror Unfolds

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Photo: PTI

Ahmedabad, India –

In what is being called one of India’s worst air disasters, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed soon after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The flight, AI-131, was en route to London Heathrow with 232 passengers and 10 crew members onboard when it went down into a nearby student hostel complex, killing almost everyone onboard and five students living in the building.

However, amidst this unimaginable tragedy, a miraculous story of survival emerged. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen of Indian origin, was the only person to survive the horrific crash.

The Moment of Impact

According to initial investigations and eyewitness reports, the aircraft took off normally at around 2:50 PM local time. But within thirty seconds of takeoff, a loud explosive sound was heard from the left side of the aircraft, believed to be near the engine attached to the left wing. Soon after, the plane lost altitude and crashed nose-down into the medical student hostel approximately 3.2 km from the runway.

Survivors in the hostel reported hearing a deafening roar before the aircraft sliced into the building, followed by fire, thick smoke, and falling debris.

The Survivor’s Account

Speaking to local reporters from his hospital bed at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Ramesh recounted the horrifying experience:“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then the crash. It all happened so fast.”

Ramesh, who works in London as a software consultant, had been visiting Gujarat along with his elder brother, Ajay, to meet extended family in their ancestral village near Anand. They were returning home after their three-week trip, but were seated in different rows on the aircraft. Ramesh was seated in seat 11A, an emergency exit seat located near the left wing, while Ajay was seated in row 23.

In an emotional tone, he added:“I don’t know what happened to my brother. We checked in together but were sitting apart. The plane crashed and when I woke up, there were bodies all around me.”

How He Survived

Senior police officer Vidhi Chaudhary, who is supervising the crash rescue operations, explained that Ramesh’s seat location near the emergency exit may have saved his life. According to preliminary rescue team reports, the impact zone around row 11 was slightly less damaged than the nose and tail areas, giving him a narrow chance to escape.“Ramesh was sitting by the emergency exit on the left side. He somehow managed to open the emergency door or it may have been dislodged upon impact, enabling him to crawl out and jump to safety,” Chaudhary said.

In video footage now widely circulated on social media, Ramesh is seen walking dazed through the burning wreckage with his white shirt covered in blood, shouting in Gujarati:“Plane fatyo che! Plane fatyo che!”
(“The plane exploded!”)

He was later seen being helped by local residents and emergency responders, who placed him into an ambulance and rushed him to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Hospital Condition and Family Reactions

Doctors treating Ramesh stated that he was “extremely lucky” to survive the crash. Dr. Rajnish Patel, head of surgery at the hospital, told reporters:“Mr. Ramesh has some minor external injuries and internal bleeding, but he is stable and under observation. Considering the severity of the crash, his survival is a miracle.”

From his hospital bed, Ramesh managed to call his family in Leicester, UK, informing them he was alive. His cousin, Ajay Valgi, spoke to media in Leicester:“We are happy and thankful that Vishwash survived. But we are heartbroken because Ajay (his brother) and so many others lost their lives. This is the worst news we could ever get.”

Victims and National Grief

The Air India flight carried a diverse passenger list:

• 169 Indian nationals

• 53 British nationals

• 7 Portuguese nationals

• 1 Canadian national

• 10 Indian crew members

Five students living in the hostel building that the plane crashed into also lost their lives. Rescue operations continued into the night as teams searched for bodies and potential survivors amidst the burning debris and collapsed concrete.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow and declared national mourning for two days. He also ordered immediate compensation for the families of all deceased passengers and hostel victims.“This is a very dark day for our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones. We will ensure all support and a thorough investigation,” PM Modi said in an official statement.

Investigation Underway

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a full inquiry, along with Air India and Boeing engineers. Preliminary reports suggest mechanical failure in the left engine, but black box data will confirm the actual cause.

Boeing issued a statement expressing condolences and promised full cooperation with Indian aviation authorities.

A Miracle Amidst Tragedy

While India mourns the loss of so many innocent lives, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh’s survival is being called “God’s grace” by his family. But for Ramesh, the nightmare is far from over as he continues to ask:“Where is my brother? Where is Ajay?”

This tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the unforeseen horrors that can alter families forever within moments. As investigations continue, the nation waits for answers on how such a devastating crash occurred on what should have been an ordinary summer afternoon flight.