**Title:** Miraculous Escape: Sole Survivor of Air India Flight AI171 Crash
**Meta Description:** Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the Air India Flight AI171 crash, shares his harrowing escape from the disaster that claimed 265 lives.
**URL Slug:** air-india-flight-ai171-survivor-escape
**Headline:** Sole Survivor of Air India Flight AI171 Shares His Miraculous Escape from the Crash
In a tragic incident, Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, resulting in the loss of 265 lives. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, recounted his miraculous escape from the inferno that followed the disaster.
Seated in 11A, adjacent to the emergency exit on the left side of the aircraft, Ramesh described how the plane disintegrated shortly after takeoff. His seat was propelled away from the wreckage, providing him with a rare chance to evade the flames that consumed the rest of the aircraft. “The plane broke, and my seat came off,” he told medical staff at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. “That is how I was saved.”
Ramesh clarified that he did not jump from the plane; instead, he was ejected from his seat while still strapped in as the aircraft fell apart. “The place where I landed was low… I took off the seat belt and for a moment, I was scared for my life. But I was near ground level, so I tried to get out,” he explained in an interview with DD News. Despite witnessing the tragic deaths of fellow passengers and crew members, he managed to walk away from the wreckage after noticing that the doors were broken.
“I can’t believe how I survived,” Ramesh expressed. “I thought I would die. People died in front of my eyes.” A now-viral video captures Ramesh, bruised and bloodied, limping towards an ambulance as bystanders bombard him with questions about the fate of others on the flight. He is currently under observation in the trauma ward.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into a medical college hostel shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, was seen losing altitude rapidly and igniting in a fiery blaze that sent thick black smoke spiraling into the sky. The plane had barely climbed to 600-800 feet before plummeting to the ground.
Images from the aftermath revealed parts of the aircraft embedded in BJ Medical College, with remnants of its landing gear, fuselage, and tail protruding from the building. The pilot issued a ‘Mayday’ distress call shortly after takeoff at 1:39 PM, indicating a full emergency, according to Air Traffic Control in Ahmedabad.
A formal investigation into the crash is currently underway, with efforts ongoing to locate the aircraft’s black box, which contains the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, to uncover the events leading up to the disaster.
Among the passengers were 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, along with two pilots and ten crew members. Notably, former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani was also on board the ill-fated flight.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What caused the Air India Flight AI171 crash?**
A: The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with authorities examining the flight data and cockpit voice recorders for insights into the incident.
