AHMEDABAD, India — When the smoke cleared from the burning wreckage of Air India Flight AI171, no one expected to find survivors. The Boeing 787 had slammed into a medical college hostel shortly after takeoff. With 241 people pronounced dead hope seemed grim. But amid the twisted metal and shattered lives, a man in a bloodstained shirt was seen walking away.
His name is Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen of Indian heritage. He was seated in 11A, next to the emergency exit and now, astonishingly, he is the sole survivor of India’s deadliest air disaster in a decade.
“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” Ramesh told press from his hospital bed.
He had been in India visiting family. His brother, Ajay, had been seated in another row. Ramesh has not been able to find him.
“He was travelling with me and I can’t find him anymore,” he said in a quiet voice. “Please help me find him.”
Air India has confirmed that 241 people on board were killed, including passengers and crew and 11 people on the ground with three student confirmed dead after the flight crashed into the institute. Ramesh is the only one who made it out alive a lone survivor.
“Not Very Critical”
Doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital say Ramesh’s injuries are not life-threatening. He’s under close watch but expected to recover.
“He has some blood in the images, but he’s not very badly injured,” said Dr Rajnish Patel, head of surgery. “He is very comfortable and under strict observation.”
His survival has stunned aviation experts. safety analyst David Soucie, a former U.S. aviation inspector, noted that Seat 11A over the wing is in a structurally strong area, but survival in such a crash is still “incredibly surprising.”
A Family in Shock
In Leicester, England, Ramesh’s cousin, Ajay Valgi, said the family was overwhelmed with grief and relief.
“He’s alive he called us to say he’s fine,” Valgi told reporters. “But we’re heartbroken about his brother, and for everyone who lost someone.”
British MP Shivani Raja, who represents Leicester East, called the survival “nothing short of a miracle.”
“I’ve spoken to the family. This is an incredibly difficult time. Their grief is unimaginable,” she told media.
The Crash
Flight AI171 had just taken off from Ahmedabad, heading for London’s Gatwick Airport, when disaster struck. The aircraft plunged into the BJ Medical College hostel around lunchtime. Many students were inside.
At least three medical students died, according to the Indian Medical Association. Thirty more were injured. Authorities say the full death toll may rise as more bodies are identified.
State police chief Vidhi Chaudhary told media the toll had been revised to over 240 after earlier reports mistakenly counted body parts more than once.
Investigations Underway
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched an inquiry. Boeing has dispatched a team of experts to assist. U.S. and UK officials are also involved.
One piece of evidence under scrutiny is video showing the plane’s landing gear still down seconds before impact an unusual detail for a plane that had just taken off.
“If you didn’t know better, you’d think the aircraft was coming in to land,” said U.S. aviation safety consultant Anthony Brickhouse.
The crashed Dreamliner, delivered to Air India in 2014, had no previous history of serious incidents. This is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787-8 since it entered commercial service in 2011.
Mourning a National Tragedy
Flags across India are flying at half-mast. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a native of Gujarat, called the incident “heartbreaking beyond words.”
In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the images were “devastating.” King Charles is being kept updated. U.S. President Donald Trump also offered condolences, calling the crash “terrible.”
As families grieve and investigators search for answers, the story of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh stands as a rare glimmer of hope and a chilling reminder of how fine the line is between life and death.
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