In a tragedy that has shaken both India and the world, an Air India flight carrying over 240 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The aircraft was bound for London Gatwick, carrying passengers from multiple nations, including India, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada.
Out of the 242 passengers and crew on board, authorities have now confirmed at least one known survivor — a British national who miraculously lived to tell the tale.
A Routine Flight Turns into Horror
The Air India flight, which departed just after dawn from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, was expected to make its way to London within hours. But only thirty seconds after takeoff, tragedy struck.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud mechanical noise, followed almost instantly by a violent explosion. The plane, carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian passenger, crashed back to earth in a fiery blast.
Authorities have yet to release the official number of fatalities — both from those aboard the aircraft and potential casualties on the ground. The crash is currently under full investigation by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with support from international aviation bodies.
The Miracle Man: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
Among the wreckage, one man emerged alive — 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national from Leicester who had been seated in seat 11A on the doomed flight.
Ramesh, now recovering in a hospital in Asarwa, Ahmedabad, spoke to The Hindustan Times from his bed. His voice was soft but steady as he recounted the nightmare.
“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” he said. “It all happened so quickly.”
He paused before continuing.
“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. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.”
It’s a memory he says will never leave him. The chaos. The fire. The stunned silence broken only by cries for help. Ramesh’s survival is nothing short of a miracle — and even he admits he has no idea how or why he made it out alive.
Family Speaks from the UK
Back in Leicester, his family is still trying to make sense of it all.
In a brief statement shared with local media, one of Ramesh’s relatives said:
“He has no idea how he escaped. None of us do. But we’re grateful beyond words that he’s alive. He’s doing better now, though it will take time for both his body and mind to heal.”
Medical Update: Multiple Injuries, But Stable
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, one of the doctors treating Ramesh at Asarwa Civil Hospital, shared that the survivor came in with multiple injuries, confusion, and symptoms of physical trauma.
“He was disoriented when he arrived,” Dr. Gameti explained. “There were injuries across his chest, arms, and legs. But he is now stable and appears to be out of immediate danger. The focus will now shift to his psychological recovery.”
Investigation Ongoing
While the full picture of what led to the crash is still being pieced together, aviation experts have confirmed that black box recovery efforts are underway. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, if intact, may help determine what caused the sudden failure during the plane’s ascent.
Engineers have not ruled out mechanical malfunction, and several eyewitnesses near the airport described seeing flames or smoke trailing the aircraft seconds before the crash. Security camera footage from a nearby parking lot is also being reviewed.
Air India has yet to issue a detailed statement beyond confirming the flight’s route, passenger list, and collaboration with authorities.
National Mourning and Global Grief
The crash has left India in mourning. The loss of so many lives — and in such a sudden, violent manner — has left the nation shaken.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally visited the crash site. His words, shared in an emotional Twitter post, reflected the country’s collective sorrow:
“Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath.”
“We are all devastated by the air tragedy. 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. Om Shanti.”
Local Communities Rally to Help
Residents near the crash site have been described as “heroic” by first responders. Many rushed to help, pulling survivors from the burning fuselage before emergency crews arrived.
One resident, who asked not to be named, told a local news station:
“It was like the sky broke open. We heard the boom, ran out, and saw the fire. People were screaming. We didn’t even think — we just ran to help.”
Food, blankets, and medical supplies were offered by local families as authorities struggled to contain the scene and locate survivors in the hours following the disaster.
Survivorship and the Road Ahead
For Ramesh, the road to recovery will be long — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He remains under close observation, with psychological counseling scheduled to begin this week.
Trauma experts say it’s critical that survivors of plane crashes receive not only medical care but also long-term mental health support to process the experience.
What makes Ramesh’s survival even more remarkable is that he wasn’t seated near an exit, nor did he have special training. His seat location, 11A, placed him near the front of the cabin, an area typically more vulnerable in a crash. And yet, he lived.
As he told a nurse late yesterday, in a quiet moment after surgery:
“I don’t know why I was spared. But I’m going to make the rest of my life count.”
Unanswered Questions and Lingering Fear
This tragedy has sparked renewed concerns about aircraft safety in the region, especially as India’s aviation industry continues to expand. Experts note that older aircrafts, inconsistent maintenance records, and pilot fatigue are ongoing issues that must be addressed to prevent further loss of life.
Until the black boxes are analyzed and the official accident report is released, the cause of the crash remains speculative. But what is certain is this: 241 people are gone, and a nation is grieving.
And one man, battered but alive, is now carrying the heavy weight of survival.
