What started as a routine flight from Ahmedabad to London ended in unimaginable tragedy when Air India flight AI171 crashed just moments after takeoff.
Within seconds of lifting off the runway, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lost power and plummeted into a densely populated area, killing at least 260 people.
Only one passenger, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, walked away alive.
A Flying Object Raises New Questions
Video footage captured in the final seconds before the crash shows a mysterious object flying off from the plane—just before it explodes into flames.
Investigators are now zeroing in on this debris, with experts suggesting it might have been the emergency door near seat 11A—where Ramesh was sitting.
That specific detail could be key to understanding both the crash dynamics and his survival.
Survivor Sat Right Beside Exit
Aviation safety experts believe that Ramesh’s location—right next to an emergency door—played a crucial role in his miraculous escape.
Experts like Professor John McDermid and Edwin Galea pointed out that seat 11A, an over-wing window seat beside the number two exit, is structurally reinforced and offers the quickest route out during a fire.
From his hospital bed, Ramesh said he remembers a loud noise, then the crash—everything else is a blur.
Tragically, his brother, seated beside him, did not survive.
Final Mayday Call Revealed
The plane barely made it 400 feet off the ground before both engines reportedly failed.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran with over 8,000 flying hours, sent out a chilling mayday message: “No thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”
He and co-pilot Clive Kundar had only 17 seconds to try and save the aircraft before it slammed into the BJ Medical College hostel.
Residential Zone Turned Disaster Site
Instead of heading toward Gatwick Airport, the plane crashed just 1.5 miles from the runway.
It tore into a hostel building full of medical students and staff having lunch.
At least 50 people on the ground were killed instantly, and many others were injured as the plane—loaded with nearly 90 tons of fuel—unleashed a massive fireball.
Videos showed terrified residents fleeing through smoke, flames, and debris.
Locals described the area as looking like a war zone.
Experts Point to Possible Causes
So far, investigators are considering two main theories: a bird strike that knocked out both engines or a possible flap malfunction.
Some experts argue that bird strikes are common in this region and may have occurred during takeoff.
Others are focusing on whether the flaps were set correctly—since improper flap settings could stall the plane mid-air.
The Scene After Impact
Parts of the aircraft, including a severed wing and the tail section, were scattered across the neighbourhood.
Several surrounding buildings were set ablaze.
Bodies, luggage, and debris were everywhere.
Rescue workers toiled through the night, searching for survivors under floodlights while smoke hung heavy in the air.
A Lone Survivor Amid the Carnage
Despite the horror, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh somehow emerged. He reportedly walked out of the crash zone with only minor injuries.
Footage shows him dazed but upright, navigating through the devastation on his own.
His survival—just feet away from his late brother—has been dubbed nothing short of a miracle.
Families Devastated, Authorities Investigating
Relatives who had waved goodbye at the airport hours earlier were now facing the reality that their loved ones weren’t coming home.
Authorities are now asking for DNA samples to help identify the badly burned victims.
India’s air accident investigators, along with international teams, have begun examining the black boxes to piece together the final moments of flight AI171.
What’s Next for Air India and Aviation Safety?
The investigation will likely take weeks or months.
For now, it’s raising urgent questions about aircraft safety, takeoff protocols, and the risks of flying over densely populated areas.
The story of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh—possibly the “luckiest man alive”—is already being hailed as a rare sliver of hope in an otherwise devastating tragedy.