Ramesh Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British-Indian, miraculously survived the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. Seated behind the emergency exit, he jumped out moments after the plane went down. He escaped with serious injuries but remained conscious and walked away from the wreckage.
His brother, who was also onboard, remains missing as rescue efforts continue.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”
“When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me.”
“I just remember this huge impact. Then silence. I didn’t even know I was alive until I opened my eyes.”
NEWS REPORT: Air India AI171 Crash – One Survivor Emerges From Tragedy
Ahmedabad, India – June 12, 2025
In one of the most catastrophic aviation disasters in recent Indian history, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of nearly all 280 passengers and crew on board. The crash occurred just 30 seconds into the flight, with eyewitnesses reporting a loud explosion followed by a fireball near the airport perimeter.
Amid the devastation, a single survivor emerged: Ramesh Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British-Indian national seated in seat 11A, located near an emergency exit. According to preliminary accounts, Ramesh was thrown clear or managed to escape through the emergency exit moments after impact. He sustained injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet, but was conscious and mobile when first responders arrived. He is currently being treated at a hospital in Ahmedabad and is reported to be in stable condition.
In an emotional account from his hospital bed, Ramesh said, “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I stood up and ran.”
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident, with support from aviation safety agencies and Boeing. The cause of the crash remains unknown, but black box recovery and flight data analysis are underway. Meanwhile, families of the victims, including Ramesh’s brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh, who was also on the flight and remains missing, continue to seek answers.
The incident has reignited concerns over airline safety protocols and emergency response preparedness in India. Air India and government officials have expressed condolences and vowed full transparency in the investigation.
Vishwas Kumar, the sole survivor of Air India Flight 171, said the plane crashed 30 seconds after takeoff with a loud noise near his hostel. He saw the plane split apart, with air hostesses not surviving. Kumar escaped through a small space, despite a building wall blocking others. He sustained burns to his left hand, received hospital treatment, and was visited by PM Modi. The crash's cause is under investigation, with no confirmed details yet.
