A 40-year-old British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, has been confirmed as the sole survivor of the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, northwest India, that claimed the lives of 241 others. The London-bound Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, went down just moments after takeoff on Thursday, bursting into flames as it crashed into a residential area near the BJ Medical College.
Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the crash from his hospital bed in Asarwa, Ahmedabad. “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” he told the Hindustan Times. Now recovering in the hospital’s general ward, doctors say he sustained multiple injuries but is in stable condition.
The flight was carrying 242 people, including 53 British nationals, when it crashed into the Meghani Nagar neighbourhood at 1:38 p.m. local time (09:08 BST). Video footage captured the moment the aircraft vanished behind buildings before a massive explosion engulfed the area in thick black smoke.
Initial reports had feared there were no survivors. However, Ahmedabad police commissioner GS Malik later confirmed the discovery of one survivor. “The passenger in seat 11A survived and is receiving treatment in hospital,” he said.
Ramesh, who lives in London with his wife and child, was returning to the UK after visiting family in India. His younger brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, spoke from their home in Leicester, saying, “We’re devastated. He said: ‘I have no idea how I exited the plane.’”
Recounting the aftermath, Vishwash said: “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. Someone pulled me into an ambulance.” He remains anxious about his brother, who was reportedly on the same flight but in a different row.
A Gloucester family — Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, and their four-year-old daughter — were also confirmed among the victims. The Gloucester Muslim Bereavement Council expressed heartbreak, calling the crash a “catastrophic loss.”
Also on board were spiritual wellness entrepreneurs Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, known for their South London and Ramsgate-based Wellness Foundry. Just a day before the crash, they had posted videos expressing their gratitude for a “magical” experience in India.
UK and Indian leaders have expressed condolences. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the crash “devastating,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “heartbreaking beyond words.” King Charles and Queen Camilla said they were “desperately shocked” and extended prayers to families across all nations affected.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has confirmed it is sending officials to assist Indian authorities in probing the cause of the crash, marking the first-ever fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, introduced in 2009.
As investigations begin, tributes pour in for the lives lost—and for the incredible story of survival from one man who lived through the unthinkable.
