Survivor Recounts Miraculous Escape from Air India Plane Crash

In a remarkable tale of survival, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the recent Air India plane crash, recounted how he escaped the wreckage as the plane met with disaster shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national from Leicester, was onboard the Air India Boeing 787 flight bound for London when it crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad. Ramesh described the terrifying moment just after takeoff when the aircraft's lights began flickering. "Within five to 10 seconds, it felt like the plane was 'stuck in the air'," he recalled, before the plane violently collided with a building used as accommodation for medical staff at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital, ultimately exploding on impact.

Speaking to reporters from his hospital bed, he explained how he managed to escape the wreckage, stating, "I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out." Tragically, all other passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals and 52 British nationals, did not survive the incident, with recovery efforts now focusing on identifying victims.

As smoke billowed, video footage depicted Ramesh walking towards an ambulance, visibly shocked yet alive. "I saw people dying in front of my eyes — the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me," he shared, conveying his disbelief at surviving unscathed. His condition remained serious, described by Dr. Dhaval Gameti, the doctor treating him, as “disorientated, with multiple injuries all over his body,” but ultimately he was deemed to be in less immediate danger.

Investigators have initiated an inquiry into the cause of the crash, having already recovered one black box from the disaster site, which is expected to provide crucial information about the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday, expressing condolences and offering support to the victims' families and survivors. Ramesh's brother Ajay, among other family members, had been in India for a family trip and expressed hope of reuniting with Ramesh, underlining the ongoing concerns for those affected.

The Foreign Office in the UK confirmed they are reaching out to British families impacted by the tragedy and have set up helplines for those requiring support or information. Meanwhile, Ramesh, a long-time UK resident and family man with a four-year-old son, remains in recovery as the investigation into this catastrophic event continues.