In an emotional and harrowing testimony, Air India crash Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old businessman from Leicester, UK, has recounted how he became the only survivor of the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash that killed 253 people on Thursday.
Speaking from his hospital bed to Indian state media, Mr. Ramesh revealed how he managed to escape the burning wreckage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner moments after it slammed into a building near the Ahmedabad airport.
Air India crash :- ‘I used my leg to push through an opening’
Seated in 11A, Ramesh described the seconds before the crash: “The lights inside the aircraft started flickering green and white. It felt like the plane was stuck mid-air.” He then felt the impact as the aircraft smashed into a building that housed doctors near Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital.
“I unbuckled myself, used my leg to push through an opening in the fuselage, and crawled out,” he said. “No one could have survived on the side that hit the wall.”
Witnessing the Horror
Ramesh was one of the 53 British nationals on the London-bound flight. His brother Ajay was also aboard and is among the confirmed victims. The family had been visiting India on holiday for the past few months.
“I saw air hostesses and people around me dying,” he said, visibly shaken. “For a moment, I thought I would die too. But when I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive. I still can’t believe how I survived. I walked out of the rubble.”
Multiple Injuries, But Alive
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who is treating Mr. Ramesh, said he suffered multiple injuries and was disoriented but is now considered out of danger. Footage on social media shows Ramesh walking toward an ambulance as black smoke billows in the background.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the hospital Friday morning and met with Mr. Ramesh and other injured survivors. The crash has left the nation and the global Indian diaspora in mourning.
Black Box Recovered, Investigation Begins
The cause of the crash remains unknown, though investigators have recovered one of the aircraft’s black boxes, which will be critical in understanding what caused the aircraft to lose altitude within seconds of takeoff.
More than 200 bodies have been recovered, and rescue teams continue to work at the crash site. The Foreign Office has set up helplines for British families seeking information about loved ones who were aboard Flight AI171.
Family Desperate to Reunite
Mr. Ramesh’s cousin, Hiren Kantilal, said they spoke with him on Friday. “We want to fly to India and be with him, but we’re still waiting for support from the British government.” The UK Foreign Office confirmed that it had made contact with Mr. Ramesh and is offering consular assistance.
Key Highlights:
- Vishwashkumar Ramesh is the sole survivor of Air India Flight AI171.
- He escaped the fuselage through a broken section using his leg to push himself out.
- He suffered injuries but is now stable and able to speak.
- The plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 253 people.
