Viswashkumar Ramesh, the lone person to survive India’s deadliest Air India crash, shared his gripping story from a hospital bed in Ahmedabad. The 40-year-old Indian Origin British citizen said he “doesn’t know how” he survived the crash that claimed 241 lives.
From his window seat in row 11A, he noticed the plane “wasn’t gaining altitude” and felt it “just gliding” before it slammed into a building and burst into flames. “Everything happened in seconds. I realized we were going down,” he said.
Narrow Escape from Shattered Air India Plane
He found the fuselage damaged on his side after the crash, spotting an opening. “At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage near my seat. I managed to unbuckle myself. I used my leg to push through that opening and crawled out.” It was a frantic escape amid chaos: “Everyone around me was either dead or dying. I still don’t understand how I escaped.”
His cousin had earlier told reporters that Ramesh said he jumped through a door and blacked out.
Split Fuselage Saved My Life
Seated just across the aisle in 11J, Ramesh’s brother, Ajaykumar Ramesh, is among the 241 confirmed dead. Ramesh and Ajaykumar were two of 15 travelers from Diu District on flight AI-171, which crashed seconds after leaving Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, striking the hostel block of BJ Medical College. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was on its way to London Gatwick.
From his hospital room, Ramesh kept asking one question: “Where is my brother?” His family says he made three phone calls before losing power, crying out for Ajay. Ward B7 was sealed off by Gujarat ATS and Ahmedabad Crime Branch to protect him during the ongoing investigation.
Authorities suggest possible causes like dual engine failure or a bird strike shortly after takeoff. The pilot issued a “Mayday” and lost altitude before crashing into the college mess block and igniting a deadly fireball, all within 34 seconds of departure.
The flight carried 242, including crew and passengers; several doctors and a pregnant woman died on the ground.