British Passenger Survives Air India Crash After Escaping Burning Plane
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The Crash Over Ahmedabad
A British man has survived one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was a passenger on an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner carried 232 passengers and 10 crew members. Authorities confirmed over 200 people lost their lives when the plane went down into a residential neighborhood.
The crash happened within seconds of liftoff. “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” Vishwash told The Hindustan Times. “It all happened so quickly.” He had been sitting in seat 11A and recalled waking up surrounded by wreckage. “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.” He said someone grabbed him and helped him into an ambulance.
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Survival and Aftershock
Video taken at the scene showed a man walking away from the crash site, believed to be Vishwash. Another clip later showed him being treated in the hospital for what appeared to be minor injuries. He has lived in London for 20 years with his wife and child. Though alive, he remains in shock. His brother Nayan, speaking outside the family home in Leicester, said: “We were just shocked as soon as we heard it.” He added, “He said, ‘I have no idea how I exited the plane.’”
Another relative, Jay, described how Vishwash was still thinking about his younger brother. “After the crash, he spoke to his dad worrying about his brother, saying, ‘Where’s Ajay?’” Jay also said, “He’s got some injuries on his face. He was painted in blood. He was pretty much covered in blood, that’s what his dad said. He’s doing well I think. It’s a big shock. I don’t have many words to describe the incident.”
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Damage to the Ground and Emergency Response
The aircraft hit the roof of the canteen at B J Medical College. Images from the aftermath showed parts of the plane—including its landing gear and tail—embedded in the college buildings. Firefighters worked for hours to control the smoke and flames. Local media reported that five medical students were killed and about 50 more injured. “At least five medical students had been killed and around 50 were injured after the plane collided with the college,” said Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association.
Footage posted online showed the plane flying low over the neighborhood just before crashing and erupting into a fireball. Thick black smoke rose into the sky as rescue workers rushed to the scene.
Compensation and Investigation
Tata Group, which owns Air India, said it would provide financial assistance to the families affected. Each family who lost someone in the crash will receive 10 million rupees—around £86,000. The company also said it would pay for medical care for the injured and offer help to rebuild parts of the college damaged in the crash.
The passengers on board included 159 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Eleven children were among those listed. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and authorities continue to search for the flight data recorders. Gujarat’s police commissioner confirmed Vishwash is the only known survivor so far. Airport operations in Ahmedabad remain suspended. Emergency support centers have been set up for grieving families.
