On June 12, 2025, a tragic accident occurred when Air India Flight AI171 crashed in a crowded area of Ahmedabad, India. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people, and sadly, only one person survived the disaster. Ramesh Vishwaskumar, a 40-year-old UK citizen from Leicester, was seated in the first row of economy class when the plane went down.
As the flight descended, Vishwaskumar felt something was wrong. He described a moment where the aircraft seemed to struggle, with flashing green and white lights in the cabin. The plane ultimately crashed into a densely populated district, colliding with buildings and exploding upon impact. While he was injured, Vishwaskumar managed to escape the wreckage, a feat that seems nearly miraculous given the circumstances.
In an interview with NDTV, Vishwaskumar recounted the moment he realized he was alive. "I couldn’t believe what I was watching or how I made it out alive," he said. After unbuckling his seatbelt, he saw an opportunity to flee when the door on his side broke open. Despite suffering a burn on his left hand from the fire, he was able to get out and walk away from the wreckage.
A video captured shortly after the crash shows Vishwaskumar, slightly bloodied but alive, walking near the crash site as a crowd looked on in disbelief. His survival stands out amidst one of the worst aviation disasters in recent years, which resulted in the deaths of all 241 others on board and many individuals on the ground.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Vishwaskumar’s proximity to the emergency exit likely played a crucial role in his survival. He was seated in row 11, right behind an emergency exit, which may have allowed him to escape more easily than others. As rescue teams continue to sift through the wreckage for clues and to search for potential survivors among the debris, Vishwaskumar may provide valuable insights about the flight’s final moments.
As he recovers from his injuries, the focus shifts to understanding what led to this devastating event. The aviation industry has faced a series of tragic accidents in recent months, making this incident all the more alarming. Vishwaskumar’s story is one of survival against overwhelming odds, but it also highlights the urgent need for answers in the wake of such a catastrophic event.