In a shocking revelation from the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171, the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, has shared how he narrowly escaped death while 241 others lost their lives. Ramesh, who was seated in 11A beside the emergency exit, said the aircraft broke apart shortly after takeoff, flinging his seat clear of the wreckage. "The plane broke, and my seat came off. That is how I was saved," he told doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where he remains under observation in the trauma ward. Medical staff confirmed that Ramesh did not jump from the aircraft, but was thrown out while still strapped in, escaping the flames that consumed the rest of the aircraft.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operated by Air India, took off at 1:39 pm from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. Within minutes, the aircraft issued a Mayday call to Air Traffic Control and plunged into the BJ Medical College complex in Meghani Nagar. The crash resulted in a massive blaze and thick black smoke rising over the city. According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft barely climbed to 600–800 feet before descending rapidly and crashing into the boys’ hostel building, where many students were having lunch. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) reported that at least five MBBS students, one PG resident doctor, and the wife of a super-specialist doctor were among the dead. Over 60 medical students were reportedly injured.
Air India, in an official statement, confirmed that the aircraft was carrying 242 people — 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. "We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital," the airline said. It added that a dedicated team is on the ground in Ahmedabad to assist affected families, and helpline numbers have been issued both for domestic and international callers. Former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani was among the passengers on board, though his status has not been officially confirmed.
The aircraft involved in the crash was an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, widely used in Air India’s long-haul fleet. The reasons for the crash remain under investigation, but initial reports point to a sudden structural or mechanical failure shortly after takeoff.
