Sole Survivor of Air India Flight 171 Recounts Harrowing Escape
British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh describes moments leading to his survival in the fatal Ahmedabad crash
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in 269 fatalities, including passengers, crew, and individuals on the ground.
Remarkably, 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh emerged as the sole survivor.
Seated in 11A, adjacent to an emergency exit, Ramesh recounted that moments after takeoff, the aircraft's lights began flickering green and white, and the plane felt as though it was 'stuck in the air' before it collided with a building and exploded.
He described waking amidst wreckage and bodies, managing to unbuckle himself and crawl through an opening in the fuselage to escape.
Ramesh sustained burns on his left hand and multiple injuries but is reported to be in stable condition at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
His brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh, who was also on the flight, is among the deceased.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ramesh in the hospital following the incident.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with international aviation authorities assisting in determining the cause.