Following the tragedy that saw an Air India flight crash and claim 241 lives of those onboard, a simulation has shown how one man survived it.
On Thursday, June 12, a devastating crash claimed the lives of 241 people onboard Air India Flight AI-171 and several on the ground. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical hostel seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British passenger seated at 11A, was the sole survivor of the fiery disaster.
From his hospital bed, Vishwash recounted the harrowing experience: “I can’t believe I survived. For a moment, I thought I was going to die. When I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive and tried to unbuckle and escape.
“I saw the air hostess and others perish. The side of the plane I was in struck the ground, and I saw the outside through a broken door. When it finally gave way, I escaped through it.”
He described the moments before impact: “Just five to ten seconds after takeoff, the plane felt stuck. The lights flickered green and white. It wasn’t climbing, just gliding, then suddenly hit a building and exploded.”
He added, “About thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then we crashed. Everything happened so fast. When I stood up, there were bodies everywhere. I just ran—I don’t even know how I got out.”
Following the tragedy, AiTelly on YouTube shared a video explaining why Vishwash was so fortunate. His seat, 11A, was in the first row of economy, right next to an emergency exit.
Paramedic Satinder Singh Sandhu, one of the first responders, told the Sun: “The first person we saw was the hostel guard, who had suffered severe burn injuries. He was the first patient to be transported by ambulance from the scene. Shortly after, we noticed a man emerging near the building.
“We shouted at him to stop as he appeared disoriented and was trying to return to the fire and smoke.
“We later learned that this man’s brother had been on the flight, and he was desperate to check on him. However, the team on site escorted him away and took him to Civil Hospital. His survival is truly remarkable.”
Vishwash’s brother, Ajaykumar Ramesh, who had been seated just five seats away, did not survive.
