The tragic accident of Air India flight AI171, which happened in Ahmedabad, stands as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history, claiming the lives of 241 out of 242 passengers and crew onboard. It is only recently that the story of Vishwas kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, has garnered national attention, as the narrative revolves around the bizarre details along with the remarkable nature of his survival.
The Crash: Moments from Destruction
Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight to London Gatwick was scheduled to take off from Ahmedabad on 12th June 2025. Unfortunately, the aircraft lost its altitude and spiraled into the BJ Medical College hostel a little more than half a minute into the flight, resulting in a catastrophic fireball explosion. The aftermath of the crash site was filled with debris, and people were desperately trying to salvage what was left while rescuing bodies and searching for any potential survivors.
Ramesh also elaborated on the gap he saw in the plane’s fuselage while the other parts were intact, something he could view easily owing to sitting beside a window in seat 11A. Aged 40, Vishwaskumar, who at the time identified as a British national of Indian heritage, expressed how during his last moments he recollected feeling that the plane was “just gliding” before the impending crash. He unbuckled his seatbelt and crawled out, using his legs to push through the gap—only to find himself engulfed in fire and destruction. “Everyone around me was either dead or dying. I still don’t understand how I escaped,” he recounted.
Psychological and Material Harm: Cost of Existing
Ramesh’s story is a testament to survival against the odds, but it also comes at the steep price of bereavement. His brother Ajaykumar, who was sitting across the aisle, did not survive the incident. Despite suffering grievous head wounds and burns, Ramesh’s first words to the officials and family members were frantic questions about his brother. The psychological burden of surviving such catastrophic events combined with the stark reality of loved ones lost is devastating.
Emergency Aid and Case Study
Soon after the catastrophic event, Ramesh managed to make three short calls until his phone lost charge. He was located relatively quickly by rescue personnel and treated for various injuries. Reports confirm the rescue was successful, and Ramesh is now safe. Out of concern for both his safety and in anticipation of the ongoing investigation, Ramesh is under close security. It is theorized that the area of the plane Ramesh was seated in underwent relatively less damage during the initial explosion, hence providing some route to escape.
A Country Reacts: Issues and Thoughts
The ongoing discourse social media is having regarding his survival is due to a multitude of factors. From what is being reported, a single passenger surviving in a catastrophe this large must be cited as a miracle or sheer luck. The government, on the other hand, has launched a full government investigation to see if the plane suffered from one of its two engines failing or if a bird colliding with one of the engines was the sole cause. The focus on this matter is concerning the public’s reaction and the media alongside the ongoing narrative the country finds itself in due to the looming face of grief.
The extraordinary story of the sole survivor has indeed struck an emotional chord with many people in the country. This story, alongside the loss of grieving the plane crash, is bound to intertwine the wonders of humanity alongside the tragedy this country finds itself in.
