SRINAGAR: In a rare case of survival, a British national of Indian origin was the only passenger to survive the crash of Air India Flight AI171, which went down minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing 241 people.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London-Gatwick, crashed into a residential area near BJ Medical College shortly after departure. Emergency teams recovered bodies from the wreckage, but amid the devastation, 48-year-old Vishwashkumar Ramesh was found alive.
Ramesh, who had been visiting relatives in India, was located walking away from the crash site with visible injuries and his boarding pass still in hand. He was seated in 11A, an emergency exit row near the left wing. He is undergoing treatment at a city hospital, where doctors said he is out of danger but remains under observation.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Ramesh told reporters he was travelling with his brother. “There was a loud sound shortly after takeoff. Everything went dark. When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by bodies. I ran,” he said.
His survival has drawn attention from aviation experts and authorities, who noted the improbability of such an escape. Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation have launched an inquiry. Preliminary findings suggest that weather was not a factor. Investigators are working to recover the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Ramesh at the hospital and met local officials overseeing the investigation. A helpdesk has been set up for families of the deceased, and search efforts are ongoing to identify the victims.
