A British national has emerged as the sole survivor of a devastating Air India crash that killed more than 290 people near Ahmedabad on Thursday. Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, 40, was found alive amid the wreckage after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner slammed into a crowded residential neighborhood minutes after takeoff.
Ramesh, who had been visiting family in India, was seated in 11A and was returning to London when the plane crashed. “We heard a loud noise 30 seconds after takeoff,” he told the Hindustan Times from his hospital bed. “When I woke up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared, so I got up and ran.”
Officials confirmed Ramesh suffered injuries to his face, chest, and feet but managed to escape the inferno that engulfed the aircraft. His brother, who was sitting in another row, is still missing.
Ahmedabad police said the flight, bound for London Gatwick, was carrying 242 people when it crashed and exploded into flames, killing passengers and residents in the area. “We have recovered 204 bodies so far,” said Police Commissioner J.S. Malik. “Rescue operations are ongoing.”
The crash site, located just beyond the airport perimeter, is densely populated. Dozens of homes were destroyed, and firefighters worked into the night to douse flames and recover victims.
Officials reported that 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian were among those on board, including 11 children. At least 41 people were injured on the ground.
The Indian Civil Aviation Authority said the plane issued a distress call shortly before vanishing from radar. A formal investigation is underway.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the images from the crash were “devastating,” while India’s aviation minister described it as a “national tragedy.”
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