The sole survivor of the 242 passengers on a London-bound flight that crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on Friday described his struggle to comprehend how he escaped alive from the fiery explosion.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, spoke to national broadcaster DD News from his hospital bed in Hindi, saying, “I witnessed everything, and even I can’t believe I came out alive.”
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying a full fuel load for its long-haul journey, erupted in flames shortly after taking off on Thursday afternoon.
According to reports, Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, was the only survivor on the plane, while at least 24 others lost their lives on the ground. His brother was also on board, as confirmed by his family in the UK.
He recounted, “Within a minute of takeoff, I felt something was wrong… I noticed the plane’s green and white lights activating, and then it seemed to accelerate directly towards a hospital hostel. I saw everything as the crash occurred.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ramesh in the hospital, where he is being treated for burns and other injuries, as seen in footage on social media.
Ramesh, 40, hails from Leicester, UK, according to the Press Association, which spoke with his family. The plane crashed into buildings just outside the airport’s boundaries.
“I initially thought I was going to die, but when I opened my eyes, I realized I was still alive,” he recalled emotionally. “I saw the flight attendants and others around me, and I used respectful terms for older people.”
He managed to unbuckle his seatbelt and escape, telling reporters, “I think the side I was on wasn’t facing the hostel. When my door broke, I noticed space and decided to slip out.”
Social media videos showed Ramesh shortly after the incident, limping but walking toward an ambulance in a blood-stained shirt. “I sustained minor burns on my left hand, but I received good care at the hospital,” he said.
Air India reported that there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members on the flight to London’s Gatwick airport. The current death toll has reached 265, according to police.
Authorities have initiated DNA testing to help identify the charred remains of passengers and victims on the ground.
