The only survivor of the devastating Air India Flight AI 171 crash has revealed how he survived in a new interview from his hospital bed in Ahmedabad.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the only passenger to survive what is now one of the worst aviation disasters in recent memory.
In an extraordinary testimony, 40-year-old Ramesh, who lives in London with his wife and child, recalled how the aircraft carrying 242 passengers and crew members “split in two” before he “jumped out” just moments after it crashed into a building filled with medical students.
“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," he said, per Doordarshan, cited by Daily Mail.
The passenger was sitting in 11A, which was beside an emergency exit that detached during impact.
“There was some space. When the door broke, I saw that space and I just jumped out,” he said, describing a narrow escape as his section of the plane collapsed onto the ground floor.
Ramesh recounted the terrifying moments just after takeoff, saying it felt like "the plane had got stuck," and revealing that he witnessed air hostesses and others die in front of his eyes. He also shared that he heard “a loud noise” before the jet plummeted into the building.
Fire broke out immediately, burning his arm. After freeing himself, he stood among debris and bodies. “I was scared. I stood up and ran," he continued. "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."
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who examined the sole surviving passenger, told AP that although he had suffered multiple injuries, he was now “out of danger".
Footage of the crash scene shows a large object flying from the aircraft just seconds before impact. Investigators believe this was the very emergency exit door next to seat 11A, which likely saved Ramesh’s life.
Experts note the proximity of the seat to the exit “greatly increases the chance of survival when there is a fire,” with historian Edwin Galea remarking: “You can't be any closer.”
Initial reports indicate the pilots issued a mayday call: “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”
The plane lost power at around 400 feet and crashed into a multi-story medical student hostel, causing a massive inferno. Eyewitnesses and rescue teams worked through choking black smoke to recover more than 200 charred bodies, many unrecognizable.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik said most of the dead passengers were charred beyond recognition.
Ramesh’s older brother Ajay, 45, also boarded the flight but is believed to have died. The family remains devastated. “It’s a miracle Vishwash is alive. But we’ve lost Ajay. It’s devastating. I’m terrified to even fly now,” said a relative.
Two primary theories have emerged regarding the crash: a bird strike disabling both engines, and possibly misconfigured flaps. According to the Daily Mail, Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar noted early signs pointed toward bird hits, while another expert, Marco Chan, suggested flap malfunctions could explain the rapid descent.
The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has begun a full probe under International Civil Aviation Organization protocols, with investigations including flight data and cockpit voice recorder retrieval.
Teams from the US, NTSB, FAA, Boeing, and GE are expected to assist, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu disclosed. DNA testing is underway to identify the victims.
On Friday (June 13), Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ramesh in the hospital and also surveyed the wreckage.
“We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad,” Modi said on X. “The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Condolences to all the bereaved families. We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come."