A 40-year-old British citizen, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was the first survivor found on board the crashed Indian airline AI 171. According to the Hindustan Times, he was taken to the hospital with “impact injuries.”
Vishwash was seated in seat 11A and mentioned that the malfunction began just 30 seconds into the flight.
He was on his way back to the UK after visiting family in India with his brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh, 45.
“After 30 seconds of takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then the plane crashed. Everything happened so fast,” Vishwash told the Hindustan Times, noting injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet.
The flight was scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport in London. The crashed aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, including the crew. It took off at 1:39 pm on Thursday and crashed and caught fire eight minutes later.
Of the 230 passengers on board, 169 were Indian citizens, 53 were British citizens, 7 were Portuguese citizens, and 1 was a Canadian citizen, as reported by Air India.
Vishwash still had his boarding pass in hand. “When I stood up, all I could see were bodies around me. I was terrified. I stood up and started running. Plane debris was scattered around me. Someone grabbed me, lifted me onto the ambulance, and took me to the hospital,” he said.
Having lived in London for 20 years, Vishwash mentioned that his wife and children also reside in the city.
His brother, Ajay, was seated in another row on the plane. “He was traveling with me, but I can’t find him anymore. Please help me find him,” Vishwash said during the interview.
Elsewhere in the hospital, family and friends of passengers on the flight are searching for their loved ones, hoping for news and updates.