British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, has recounted the moments leading up to the disaster.
The 40-year-old man, seated in 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, while describing the sudden and catastrophic events that unfolded shortly after takeoff, noted that it happened barely 30 seconds after lifting into the air.
“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” Ramesh told journalists from his hospital bed at the Civil Hospital in Asarwa, Ahmedabad.
“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.”
The aircraft, which departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. local time (09:08 BST), plunged into a residential area, striking a medical college and sparking a massive explosion.
Videos from the scene captured the impact, with plumes of thick smoke engulfing the neighborhood.
Ramesh’s miraculous survival has left investigators and authorities stunned.
When asked how he managed to exit the plane, Ramesh humbly replied, “I have no idea how I exited the plane.”
How many people died in the India Air crash?
The crash claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew, including 53 British nationals.
Ramesh’s family, speaking from their home in Leicester, expressed shock and devastation.
His brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, revealed the family’s emotional turmoil. “We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We’re devastated, just devastated.”
As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, authorities are working to recover remains and assess the wreckage.
The airline and aviation regulators have yet to release further details on the cause of the disaster.
Major Talking Points
- Crash Details: The plane crashed 30 seconds after takeoff, resulting in a massive explosion and fire.
- Survivor’s Account: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh described the sudden and catastrophic events leading up to the crash.
- Investigation: Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with no official explanation released yet.
- Casualties: 241 people lost their lives, including 53 British nationals.
- Miraculous Survival: Ramesh’s survival is being described as nothing short of miraculous, given the extent of the destruction.
