Air India crash survivor describes harrowing moment he woke up in wreckage as victims died around him
Air India crash survivor describes harrowing moment he woke up in wreckage as victims died around him
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh said he initially thought he too was dead, before realising he had survived the crash
Indian Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah meeting the British plane crash survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh at a hospital in Ahmedabad
The sole British survivor of the catastrophic Air India crash has recounted the chilling moment he saw people "dying in front of my eyes". Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, speaking from his hospital bed to DD News, said he "still can't believe how I survived".
Detailing the events leading up to the tragedy, the 40 year old shared that after take-off, the aircraft felt as though it was "stuck in the air" and then there was flickering of green and white lights before: "It suddenly slammed into a building and exploded."
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college on Thursday, before bursting into flames and claiming the lives of all other 241 passengers, marking it as one of the worst aviation disasters affecting British citizens and the first for the 787 model.
In a statement posted on X, India's civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced the recovery of the flight's black box within 28 hours of the accident. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
People look at parts of the Air India plane in Ahmedabad
(Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )
Reflecting on his miraculous survival during his interview with DD News, Mr Ramesh stated: "I can't believe how I came out of it alive."
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He described the moments of terror saying: "For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too.
"But when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive. I still can't believe how I survived."
Mr Ramesh, who found himself relatively unharmed in seat 11A next to the plane's emergency exit, recalled the harrowing prelude to the impact. He said: "When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air.
"Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white.
"The aircraft wasn't gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded."
He continued: "At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage.
"I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out. I don't know how I survived.
"I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me...I walked out of the rubble."
Mr Ramesh clarified to the DD News that he woke up inside the plane, and had not jumped out of it.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is offering consular support to Mr Ramesh, as confirmed by Downing Street.
Narendra Modi visited the crash site to take stock of the situation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a visit to the crash site in India on Friday, with footage circulating showing him engaging with Mr Ramesh at the hospital.
There are growing concerns that the fatalities among those on the ground may increase. Efforts to determine what caused the tragic crash persist.
Among the casualties were at least five medical students, with around 50 people injured.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the dedicated FCDO helpline received nearly 300′ enquiries by Friday morning following the tragedy.
Tributes have been pouring in for those who lost their lives in the disaster, including for Dr Prateek Joshi, who was described as a "wonderful man" who shared with his colleagues about his "his newly-discovered love of fish and chips and enthusiasm for walking in the Peak District".
Britons Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who operate a spiritual wellness centre, are believed to be among those who tragically lost their lives in the accident.
Earlier this year, Mr Greenlaw-Meek appeared on ITV's This Morning, earning acclaim from former show editor Martin Frizell for his "vibrancy" and "enthusiasm".
Tributes have also been paid to Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa, and their four-year-old daughter Sara, all feared to have died in the crash.
Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their four-year-old daughter Sara, from Gloucester, tragically lost their lives in the crash
(Image: PA Media )
Speaking on behalf of the stricken family, Imam Abdullah Samad stated: "We are heartbroken as we await further information regarding our beloved family members who were on board the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick.
"The news of this tragic incident has left us devastated, and we are still coming to terms with the enormity of what has happened."
In a call for unity amid tragedy, Raj Mishra, mayor of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, relayed the sad news that residents "Raxa Modha, infant Rudra Modha, and Ms K Mistri" from his community were among those who died.
Aircraft specialists are currently delving into the potential causes of the disaster, mulling over scenarios from a double engine failure potentially triggered by bird strike – similar to the renowned 'Miracle on the Hudson' of 2009 – to incorrect settings of the aircraft's wing flaps for ascent.
Photos captured post-accident depict fragments of the aeroplane lodged into the structure of BJ Medical College. Air India's chief executive, Campbell Wilson, visited the crash site but refrained from answering any media queries, as reported by the BBC.
Debris from the plane that crashed yesterday
(Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )
An Air India flight that was due to take off from Gatwick to Ahmedabad on Friday at 8.30pm has been cancelled.
Tata Group, Air India's parent company, pledged to provide 10 million Indian rupees (approximately £86,000) to each family of those who tragically lost their lives in the crash.
The firm also committed to covering the medical expenses of those injured and providing support for the development of the medical college.
In response to the AI171 crash, Air India has established assistance centres for friends and relatives at Gatwick, Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad airports.
UK officials are being dispatched to India to aid the investigation, according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that teams from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board were en-route to India, with backing from Boeing and GE Aerospace.
He informed reporters that it was "way too premature" to ground Boeing 787s following the crash.
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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advised any British nationals in need of consular assistance, or those worried about family or friends, to ring 020 7008 5000.
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