A Singular Escape from a Catastrophic Crash
Tragedy struck over the skies of Ahmedabad when Air India Flight 171, a London-bound Boeing Dreamliner, crashed just minutes after takeoff. Of the 244 souls on board, only one man survived—Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 45-year-old British national seated in 11A, right beside an emergency exit.
As India grapples with the scale of this devastating crash, the story of Ramesh’s survival has gripped the nation. His escape is not just improbable—it borders on the miraculous.
“I Thought I Was Dead” — Ramesh’s Account
Ramesh had been in India to visit family and was flying back to the UK with his brother when disaster struck. Speaking from his hospital bed in Ahmedabad, Ramesh told DD News and the Hindustan Times:
“At first, I thought I was dead. I saw fire, I saw pieces of the plane everywhere… and bodies. It was like a nightmare.”
Just minutes after takeoff, he said, the cabin lights began flickering, followed by an unnatural jolt. Moments later, the aircraft slammed into the side of a medical college complex in Meghani Nagar.
What Made Seat 11A Different?
According to Ramesh, the crash impact tore the aircraft into multiple segments—but his section didn’t break off or fall onto the rooftop like the rest of the fuselage. The row he was seated in, close to the wing and emergency exit, remained partially intact and grounded.
“There was a crack in the fuselage. I pushed through it with my leg, unbuckled my seatbelt, and crawled out,” he recalled.
That escape path—the fractured but not completely destroyed section—allowed him to emerge from the wreckage when no one else could.
A Scene of Horror
Ramesh vividly remembers the chaos around him:
“I saw air hostesses on fire, people screaming, then silence. I walked out through rubble, stunned, not understanding how I was still alive.”
With his boarding pass still in his pocket, he stumbled out of the debris field. Moments later, first responders spotted him, helped him into an ambulance, and rushed him to the hospital—where he was declared stable with minor injuries.
Was It Just Luck?
Aviation experts say that a combination of factors likely contributed to Ramesh’s survival:
- Seat Position: Being near the emergency exit on a structurally stronger part of the fuselage may have shielded him.
- Impact Location: His section remained on the ground, rather than crashing onto the building’s rooftop.
- Split-Second Reaction: Ramesh’s ability to stay conscious and crawl out almost immediately may have saved him from post-crash fire and debris collapse.
While an official report is still pending, his seat placement and proximity to the breach were key.
A Nation Watches in Awe
Ramesh’s escape is being called a “divine intervention” by some, and a survival anomaly by others. But regardless of the lens through which it’s seen, his story is a sliver of light in an otherwise dark day.
Final Thoughts
As authorities investigate what caused the Boeing Dreamliner to crash with such catastrophic consequences, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh stands as a living testament to the unpredictable nature of tragedy—and survival. His story is one that will be remembered, studied, and retold for years to come.