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Air India Plane Crash: Sole Survivor Recounts Harrowing Escape
A British man miraculously survived the Air India plane crash on Thursday, describing his escape from the wreckage. The Air India crash, involving a Boeing 787, resulted in the tragic loss of many lives, but this individual’s survival offers a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation. The survivor’s account provides crucial insights into the final moments of the flight and the immediate aftermath of the Air India plane crash.
Survivor’s Account of the Air India Plane Crash
Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of Thursday’s Air India plane crash, recounted his escape from the obliterated aircraft via an opening in the fuselage.
“I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out,” Ramesh told Indian state media DD News.
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Ramesh, 40, occupied seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787 flight, which crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, western India.
Tragic Loss of Life in Air India Incident
Air India confirmed that all other passengers and crew perished, including 169 Indian citizens and 52 British citizens. Over 200 bodies have been recovered, but the exact breakdown of passengers and ground victims remains unclear.
Details Emerge from Hospital Bed
From his hospital bed, Ramesh described how the aircraft’s lights “started flickering” shortly after takeoff.
Within moments, he felt as if the plane was “stuck in the air,” he recalled.
“The lights started flickering green and white…suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.”
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner impacted a building used as accommodations for doctors at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital.
Ramesh, a businessman from Leicester, with a wife and young son, stated his section landed near the ground, avoiding contact with the building.
“When the door broke and I saw there was some space, I tried to get out of there and I did.”
“No one could have got out from the opposite side, which was towards the wall, because it crashed there.”
Investigation Underway into Air India Tragedy
The cause of the catastrophe remains undetermined. According to news agencies, officials have recovered one black box from the crash site, which should offer crucial information to investigators.
Aftermath of the Air India Incident
- Video footage circulating on social media depicted Ramesh walking toward an ambulance amidst billowing smoke.
- He conveyed to an Indian broadcaster his disbelief at surviving the devastation.
“I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me,” he stated.
“For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too, but when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive.”
“I still can’t believe how I survived. I walked out of the rubble.”
Medical Assessment and Prime Minister’s Visit
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who treated Ramesh, reported he was “disorientated, with multiple injuries all over his body,” but appears to be “out of danger.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and hospital to meet with survivors, including Mr. Ramesh, and families of the deceased.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed the Foreign Office had “been in contact with Mr. Ramesh this morning to offer consular support.”
Family’s Plea for Assistance After Air India Crash
Ramesh, originally from India, has resided in the UK since 2003. His brother, Ajay, was also a passenger on the flight.
Their cousin, Hiren Kantilal, mentioned they were on holiday in India for several months.
He reported the family spoke with Ramesh and found him able to walk and communicate “properly.”
“We want to get out as soon as possible and meet… Vishwashkumar,” he said.
He expressed the family’s need for support from the British government for travel to India, which they had not yet received.
Government Response to Air India Flight AI171 Incident
The Foreign Office confirmed communication with Mr. Ramesh and stated: “Our consular staff are ready to support families of British Nationals who were on board Air India flight AI171.”
Following the crash, the Foreign Office established helplines for British nationals in the UK and India needing consular assistance or with concerns about friends or family.