A survivor of the Air India Flight 171 crash has recounted his harrowing escape through a broken emergency exit. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 individuals, was en route to London when it crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India. The tragedy unfolded as the plane collided with a hostel connected to B.J. Medical College, resulting in devastating casualties, including the deaths of four medical students and six relatives of resident doctors, while 24 more were hospitalized.
Ramesh Viswashkumar, a 40-year-old British national of Indian descent, emerged as the sole survivor from the wreckage. “I can’t explain. Everything was happening in my eyes,” he shared with DD News, reflecting on the chaotic moments that followed the crash. Seated near an emergency exit in 11A, Viswashkumar sustained several injuries yet managed to flee moments before flames engulfed the aircraft. “The emergency door is broken. My seat is broken. Then I see the space a little bit and I will try to come out,” he recounted.
As a fire consumed the plane, video footage revealed a massive explosion that sent thick black smoke into the sky. Aviation safety consultant Trevor Bock explained the perilous nature of such incidents, noting that the immense energy during a crash severely limits survival chances. “We’re talking thousands of kilograms of weight; the plane had a lot of fuel,” he remarked.
Viswashkumar and his brother had been in India for several months, preparing to return to their family in London. He described a disorienting moment just after takeoff, feeling the aircraft struggle before it abruptly crashed into the hostel. “I could feel engine thrust increasing to go up, but it crashed with speed into the building,” he recalled, noting that the side of the plane where he sat landed on the ground floor of the hostel.
In a critical twist, he observed that the wall of the building prevented passengers on the opposite side from escaping. “I could see that there was space outside the aircraft, so when my door broke I tried to escape through a little space and I did,” he said. Tragically, Viswashkumar watched others perish in the chaos next to him. Despite sustaining burns on his left hand, he received prompt medical attention at a local hospital, where officials stated he is recovering well but grappling with psychological trauma.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Viswashkumar in the hospital, where the survivor described his ordeal in one poignant phrase: “It’s a miracle, everything.” His brother in the UK echoed sentiments of disbelief, calling his survival “a miracle” and lamenting the loss of their third brother, who was also on board.
In total, Air India confirmed that 241 individuals perished in the incident, which included 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. As investigations unfold, this crash is being dubbed one of the worst aviation disasters in the last decade. The loss of life and the stories of those affected reveal a profoundly tragic chapter in aviation history.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/13/the-extraordinary-escape-of-the-lone-surviving-passenger-of-the-air-india-crash.html
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Publish Date: 2025-06-14 01:05:00
