In an unbelievable tale of survival, a British man has emerged as the sole survivor of a devastating Air India plane crash that killed 241 people in Ahmedabad, India.
Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A on London-bound Flight AI171, miraculously walked away from the wreckage just moments after the Boeing 787 crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Air India confirmed that all 240 others on board—including 169 Indian nationals and 52 Britons—tragically lost their lives when the aircraft went down less than a minute into its journey.
His brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, told the BBC, “He has no idea how he survived. He was more worried about our brother Ajay, who was also on the flight. That’s all he could think about.”
Footage shared online shows Mr. Ramesh walking dazed and bloodied towards an ambulance with plumes of smoke rising in the background. Later, he was seen recovering in a hospital bed during a visit by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who treated him, confirmed Mr. Ramesh had multiple injuries but was in stable condition: “He was disoriented but out of danger.”
Mr. Ramesh, an Indian-born businessman living in the UK since 2003, has a wife and a four-year-old son. His boarding pass, showing his name and seat, has since gone viral across Indian media.
The crash site included a residential complex for trainee doctors. Authorities have yet to determine the number of ground casualties or the cause of the accident.
Among the British victims were Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, and their daughter Sara—named by the Gloucester Muslim Society. Spiritual healers Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek of London’s Wellness Foundry are also believed to have perished. Several other families, including children, were among the victims.
King Charles, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have all expressed their deep sorrow. The UK has set up crisis teams and a reception center at London Gatwick Airport to support the affected families.
The flight, scheduled to land in London at 18:25 BST, had taken off at 13:39 local time. Just seconds into its ascent, the aircraft plummeted, with a verified video capturing the final tragic moments before impact.
