Against all odds, a British man survives the fiery Air India crash that killed 242 onboard.
Vishwash Ramesh’s escape stuns rescuers and brings rare hope to a grieving nation.
SEE ALSO: Air India Crew Identified After Fatal Crash as Photos and Names Released
In a miraculous turn of events, a British father has emerged alive from the wreckage of a catastrophic Air India plane crash that is believed to have claimed the lives of hundreds. The tragedy unfolded early Thursday when Flight AI171, a Gatwick-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The sole known survivor, 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was found by local authorities wandering injured in a residential neighborhood not far from the crash site. Ramesh, who had been seated in seat 11A during the flight, was discovered with visible injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet. He was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital where he is currently receiving treatment and recovering.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Ramesh recounted the horrifying ordeal to local media: “Just thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly. When I regained consciousness, there were bodies scattered around me. I was terrified, but I stood up and started running.”
He continued, “There were broken parts of the plane everywhere. Someone eventually pulled me aside and got me into an ambulance. That’s how I made it here.”
Ramesh, who lives in London with his wife and young child, had been returning to the United Kingdom after visiting relatives in India. His survival has been described by many as nothing short of miraculous, especially given the scale of destruction and initial reports that suggested no passengers had survived.
Authorities had earlier stated that all 242 people on board were feared dead. The doomed flight carried 242 passengers and crew members, including 53 British nationals, 159 Indian citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Among them were 11 children, including two newborn babies. The aircraft plummeted into a medical facility and residential buildings shortly after takeoff, causing widespread devastation both on board and on the ground.
Emergency responders, supported by military personnel, were immediately deployed to the crash site. As of Thursday evening, rescue teams had recovered at least 204 bodies from the scene, a number that includes victims from the plane and residents on the ground. Search and recovery operations continue as officials comb through the wreckage, hoping for more miracles like Ramesh’s.
In another twist, local police have reported discovering a second possible survivor in one of the hospitals hit by the crashing jet. No further details have been provided about that individual at this time.
Aviation experts analyzing the incident suggest the Boeing 787 Dreamliner may have experienced a sudden and catastrophic loss of power during the most critical phase of flight just after takeoff. Investigations are underway to determine whether a mechanical failure, human error, or other contributing factors caused the fatal crash.
The incident has triggered global shockwaves, with families of passengers in mourning and aviation regulators calling for urgent inquiries into the safety procedures of the airline and aircraft involved. As the world reels from the tragedy, the miraculous survival of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh stands as a rare beacon of hope amid the devastation.
