The Indian police stated that the sole survivor of the crashed Air India flight AI 171 managed to escape from the emergency exit on the plane. This aviation disaster is considered the worst global air tragedy in the past decade.
Originally scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad in southern India to Gatwick Airport in London, the doomed aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, including crew members. The flight took off at 1:39 PM on Thursday and crashed and caught fire just 8 minutes later.
The plane crashed during lunchtime in a residential area, hitting a dormitory of a medical college outside the airport, resulting in over 290 fatalities, including some ground personnel. This incident marks the most severe air disaster globally in the past ten years.
The only known survivor from the aircraft is Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated near the emergency exit on the flight and managed to successfully jump out of the cabin.
Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen, was visiting India and was returning to the UK with his brother.
He told the Hindustan Times, “When I woke up, there were bodies all around me. I was terrified. I stood up and started running. Plane debris was scattered around me. Someone grabbed me, helped me onto an ambulance, and took me to the hospital.”
A video circulating on social media platform X shows a man in a blood-stained white t-shirt and dark pants limping with the assistance of a medical staff member. The man’s face is bruised, with a beard, resembling the hospitalized photos of Ramesh released by local media.
In the video, people surround the man, asking about other passengers, to which he responds, “They are all inside.”
The Hindustan Times also published a photo of Ramesh’s boarding pass, indicating that he was seated in 11A.
He informed the newspaper that his brother Ajay was seated in another row on the plane and requested help in locating him.
Vidhi Chaudhary, a senior officer in Ahmedabad, India, confirmed that survivor Ramesh was near the emergency exit and managed to escape through it, leading to his rescue.
A British relative of Ramesh stated in a phone call with Reuters that they have made contact with him but declined to provide further details.
His cousin, Ajay Valgi, who resides in central England, informed BBC that Ramesh had contacted them over the phone, reassuring them that he was safe. “He just said he’s okay, nothing else,” Valgi mentioned.
Valgi expressed that the family has not heard any news about Ramesh’s brother, causing great concern and sadness among them.
He added that Ramesh is married and has a son.
Authorities mentioned that Ramesh is the only confirmed survivor currently known, but rescue operations are still ongoing.
“There may be more survivors among those receiving medical treatment in hospitals,” Chaudhary stated.