Survivor’s Tale: British Man Shares His Incredible Escape from Air India Disaster

A British man, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived a tragic plane crash involving an Air India flight. He managed to escape through a small opening in the wreckage. "I unbuckled myself, pushed through, and crawled out," he shared with Indian media.

Ramesh was on a Boeing 787 heading to London when it crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, India. Sadly, all other passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian nationals and 52 British nationals, lost their lives. While over 200 bodies have been recovered, the exact numbers are still unclear.

From his hospital bed, Ramesh recounted the harrowing moments just before the crash. He described the lights flickering and feeling like the plane was "stuck in the air." Moments later, the aircraft collided with a building used for medical staff at a nearby hospital, causing an explosion. Fortunately, the part of the plane where Ramesh was seated landed away from the building.

“When the door broke open and I saw some space, I knew I had to get out,” he said. He noted that anyone on the other side wouldn’t have escaped because that section hit the wall. Social media captured his escape, showing him walking toward an ambulance as smoke billowed behind him.

Ramesh witnessed the chaos around him: "I saw people dying in front of my eyes, including air hostesses." He expressed disbelief at his survival. “I felt like I was going to die too,” he said, reflecting on how he managed to walk out of the rubble.

Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who treated Ramesh, reported he arrived at the hospital confused and injured but was stable and no longer in danger. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited both the crash site and the hospital to meet survivors and the victims’ families.

Ramesh’s brother, Ajay, was also on the ill-fated flight. Their other brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, expressed concern for Ajay when he spoke to the media, emphasizing the family’s distress.

This tragic incident highlights the importance of aviation safety. According to the Aviation Safety Network, in 2022, there were 29 fatal airliner accidents, emphasizing the need for continuous advancements in safety measures. The emotional impact of such events is profound, affecting families and communities in deep ways.

Ramesh, who emigrated from India to the UK in 2003 and now has a wife and a four-year-old son, is still processing the traumatic events of that day. It’s a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the incredible will to survive in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

For further information on aviation safety, you can refer to resources like the Aviation Safety Network.

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