The sole survivor of yesterday's tragic Air India plane crash has shared a harrowing account of the events leading up to the disaster, which ultimately culminated in a devastating explosion.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, miraculously survived the crash, which involved 242 passengers and crew members on board.
Mr. Ramesh, a resident of London where he lives with his wife and child, is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Ahmedabad, located in northwestern India. According to attending physician Dr. Dhaval Gameti, Mr. Ramesh sustained multiple injuries and appeared disoriented upon arrival, but is now considered to be in stable condition and out of immediate danger.
In an emotional interview with Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan, Mr. Ramesh described the moment of impact: “I don’t know how I survived. For a moment, I believed my life was over. But when I opened my eyes, I realized I was still alive. I unfastened my seatbelt and managed to escape,” he said, recalling that two cabin crew members perished in front of him.
Mr. Ramesh was seated adjacent to the emergency exit, which reportedly detached upon impact. He recounted that the aircraft began to descend shortly after takeoff, before suddenly breaking apart midair. He was ejected from the aircraft just moments before it exploded.
He added that the pilots appeared to attempt regaining control, but the aircraft instead accelerated and ultimately collided with a building.
Video footage captured near the crash site showed Mr. Ramesh walking away from the wreckage, visibly injured, before being transported to the hospital by emergency responders.
Tragically, Mr. Ramesh's brother was also aboard the ill-fated flight and is currently presumed dead. Reflecting on the terrifying aftermath, Mr. Ramesh said, “I heard a loud noise before the crash. When I regained consciousness, there were bodies all around me. I was terrified. I stood up and ran. There was wreckage everywhere. Someone helped me into an ambulance, and I was brought here to the hospital.”
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