The devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad has left 241 people dead, with only one survivor – a British national named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh – miraculously pulled from the wreckage. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed the development to ANI, noting that Vishwash was found in seat 11A and is currently undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital, Asarwa.
Initially, authorities feared there were no survivors. Speaking to ANI over the phone, Commissioner Malik said, “One survivor has been found in the hospital and is under treatment. We cannot confirm the total number of fatalities yet, especially since the crash occurred in a residential area. The death toll may rise.”
According to reports, Vishwash was travelling back to London after visiting Gujarat and was accompanied by his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh (45), who is believed to be among the deceased. Vishwash recalled the traumatic moments after the crash: “There were bodies all around me, there were pieces of the plane everywhere. Someone grabbed me and put me in an ambulance,” he told News18. He has suffered injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Air India confirmed that of the 230 passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The remaining 12 on board included two pilots and 10 crew members.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, encountered trouble almost immediately after taking off at 1:39 PM. According to Air Traffic Control in Ahmedabad, the pilot issued a ‘Mayday’ distress call within seconds of departure, signaling a full-scale emergency.
Eyewitnesses and videos show the 11-year-old aircraft losing altitude rapidly before bursting into flames and crashing into a residential area. Aviation sources stated the plane managed to climb only about 600 to 800 feet before plummeting.
The aircraft first struck the mess building of BJ Medical College Civil Hospital and then crashed into the nearby Atulyam Hostel, which housed senior resident doctors. Both buildings sustained extensive damage.
Search and recovery teams are still combing the crash site, and efforts are underway to locate the aircraft’s black box – including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—to help investigators determine the cause of the crash.
