Of the 242 souls aboard Air India flight AI171, only one walked away from the wreckage in Ahmedabad. Viswash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, recounted his extraordinary escape from the devastating crash, a tale of sheer luck and quick thinking amidst unimaginable chaos.
Ramesh, seated in 11A, described the terrifying moment the plane seemingly froze in mid-air before plummeting to the ground. “Everything happened in front of my eyes. I don’t believe (know) how I survived,” he shared from his hospital bed, his voice conveying a mixture of shock and disbelief. He vividly recalled the cabin lights flickering from green and white, the surge of engine power, and then the violent impact. The suddenness of the crash left him momentarily stunned, but the instinct to survive kicked in.
He immediately unbuckled his seatbelt and, miraculously, found a small opening near his emergency exit row seat. He squeezed through the gap, escaping the inferno that consumed much of the plane. He described the other side of the plane as being pressed against a building wall, making escape impossible for others. His escape was nothing short of miraculous.
His brother, who was sitting beside him, remains unaccounted for. This detail adds another layer of heartbreak to the already tragic event. The family is still grappling with the uncertainty surrounding his brother’s fate. A cousin, Ajay Valgi, spoke to the BBC about the phone call he received from Ramesh, conveying the raw emotion of the situation.
The crash site, a hostel housing medical students, bore witness to the devastation. At least five students perished, and nearly 50 others suffered injuries. Images from the aftermath showed the scene of the crash, with food and drinks still on tables, now covered in debris. The impact of the plane’s left side hitting the ground floor of the building is a stark reminder of the force of the crash.
Ramesh sustained injuries to his chest, face, and feet, as well as burns to his left hand. Despite his injuries, he is reported to be out of immediate danger. His survival is a testament to human resilience and the unpredictable nature of chance.
The investigation is underway, with one of the black boxes already recovered. This crucial piece of evidence will hopefully provide answers to the questions surrounding the cause of the crash. The recovery of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder is a significant step in determining what led to this devastating tragedy.
While Ramesh’s survival is a beacon of hope, the tragedy of Air India flight AI171 serves as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in air travel and the importance of thorough investigations into such incidents. His story, however, is one of incredible resilience and a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure in the face of unimaginable adversity.
