India considers grounding Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 fleet following crash tragedy

Daily Mail​

a day ago

India is considering ground its entire fleet of Boeing Dreamliner 787-8s, following a deadly plane crash that happened seconds after it took off from Ahmedabad airport that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard.
Yesterday the world witnessed one of the worst aviation disasters of the 21st century, after Air India flight AI171, travelling from western India to London Gatwick, crashed into a densely populated part of Ahmedabad just seconds after taking off.
At least 290 people were killed in the crash, including 241 people on the flight and around 50 people on the ground.
The sole survivor on the plane was revealed to be British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who is miraculously in a 'not very critical' condition as he recovers in hospital, according to Dr. Rajnish Patel, professor and head of surgery at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
Since then, however, sources within India's government have told local media that its entire fleet will likely be grounded for a safety review of the plane.
Sources added that talks between India and American agencies are underway to discuss this: 'A call will be taken on the basis of a probe into the crash.'
Boeing, the plane's manufacturer, has come under heavy scrutiny over the past year, following a spate of serious accidents involving their planes.
it said in a statement: We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.'
The sole survivor of yesterday's deadly Air India plane crash has shared his shocking account of the disaster and described how he was 'ejected' from the jet before it hit the ground and exploded into a huge fireball.
Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, miraculously survived the plane disaster, which killed all but one of the 242 passengers and crew on-board.
Mr Ramesh, who lives in London with his wife and child, is being treated at a hospital in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad, where he told doctors that immediately after the plane took off, it began descending and suddenly split in two, ejecting him before there was a loud explosion.
Speaking to Indian broadcaster Doordarshan, Mr Ramesh said: 'I don't know how I came out of it alive.
'For a while, I thought I was about to die. But when I opened my eyes, I saw I was alive. And I opened my seatbelt and got out of there,' adding how two cabin crew members 'died before my eyes.'
His seat was placed right next to the emergency door, which he says came off when the plane hit the ground.
Mr Ramesh also described how just moments after take off, it 'felt like the plane had got stuck.'
He recalled how the pilots tried to raise the jet, but it 'went full speed and crashed into the building'.
Remnants of the fuselage and the landing gear were seen dangling through a gaping hole in the side of what appeared to be a canteen
Mr Ramesh explained how the plane quickly caught fire following the crash, and said he burned his arm.
Astonishing footage taken near the crash site yesterday showed Mr Ramesh with visible injuries hobbling away from the jet before he was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Mr Ramesh, whose brother was also on the flight and is presumed dead, described yesterday how he heard a 'a loud noise' before the plane crashed.
'When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran.
'There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.'