Imagine stepping off a plane, injured and dazed, as wreckage burns around you—knowing you’re the only one who made it out alive.
That’s the reality for Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old London-based man, who miraculously survived a deadly Air India plane crash that killed nearly everyone else on board.
One Man Walks Away from Tragedy
The devastating crash happened in Ahmedabad, India, as the London-bound flight went down shortly after takeoff.
Out of 242 passengers and crew members, Ramesh was the sole survivor.
He’s currently being treated in hospital for multiple injuries, and though he’s battered, doctors say he’s no longer in danger.
“I Thought I Was Going to Die”
In his own words, Ramesh told Indian broadcaster Doordarshan that he had mentally prepared for death.
“For a moment, I truly believed I was about to die.
But then I opened my eyes…
I was alive,” he said, still in disbelief.
He described being thrown from the aircraft as it split apart mid-air and exploded. His seat—located next to the emergency door—was torn loose in the chaos.
Once conscious, he undid his seatbelt and scrambled to safety, despite the scene of horror around him.
Horror in the Skies and on the Ground
According to Ramesh, the plane “felt stuck” moments after takeoff.
The pilots attempted to climb, but the jet instead sped forward and smashed into a residential building filled with medical students.
He burned his arm in the fire that followed.
Chilling footage showed Ramesh stumbling away from the burning wreckage, bleeding and clearly in shock.
His brother, who was also on board, is sadly presumed dead.
Prime Minister Offers Comfort
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited both the crash site and the hospital where Ramesh is recovering.
Photographs showed Modi speaking gently with the survivor at his bedside.
“We are all devastated by this air tragedy,” the PM said online.
“The sudden loss of so many lives is heartbreaking beyond words.”
A National Investigation Begins
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into what caused the tragedy.
So far, officials haven’t confirmed whether the plane’s black boxes—essential for finding out what went wrong—have been recovered.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the probe, following global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
A team of experts from the U.S.—including staff from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing, and GE—will also assist.
Ground Casualties and DNA Identification
The building struck by the jet housed students, many of whom were killed in the crash.
According to officials, most bodies have been burned beyond recognition.
DNA testing is now underway to identify the victims.
Outside Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, grief-stricken families gathered in anguish on Friday, waiting for updates and answers.