2025-06-12T16:23:59Z

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The recent Air India flight AI 171 disaster has sent shockwaves across the nation and beyond. The only known survivor of the harrowing crash, Ramesh Viswashkumar, has recounted the terrifying moments that unfolded shortly after takeoff, providing a chilling glimpse into the tragic event that resulted in the loss of over 200 lives.

On Thursday, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad, India, bound for London, carrying 242 people, including passengers and crew members. Tragically, the flight met its fate less than a minute after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. This incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade, raising significant concerns over aviation safety standards.

In a heart-wrenching interview from his hospital bed, 40-year-old Viswashkumar shared the horrifying details of the crash with The Hindustan Times. According to his account, just thirty seconds after the plane took off, he heard a deafening noise that signaled impending doom. “It all happened so quickly,” he recalled. “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,” Viswashkumar described, vividly capturing the chaos that ensued.

Viswashkumar's ordeal did not end with his own escape; he expressed deep concern for his brother, Ajay, who was seated in a different row and has not yet been located. “He was travelling with me and I can’t find him anymore. Please help me find him,” he pleaded, underscoring the personal tragedy amid the larger catastrophe.

Eyewitness accounts and video footage from the scene reveal the severity of the crash. A clip shared by Indian news outlet India Today shows a visibly injured Viswashkumar limping toward an ambulance, surrounded by shocked onlookers, highlighting the frantic aftermath of the calamity.

The crash took place in a residential area, crashing into a medical college hostel, which was bustling with activity during lunchtime. This unexpected turn of events has not only impacted the aviation community but also raised alarms within residential zones near airports.

Ahmedabad police chief GS Malik provided updates to the media, revealing that they had recovered 204 bodies from the wreckage. Initially, he reported that there were no survivors, creating a wave of despair. However, he later confirmed to the Indian news agency ANI that there was one survivor, Ramesh Viswashkumar, who is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. This revelation brought a glimmer of hope amid the tragic news, but it also raised questions about the circumstances leading to the crash and the investigation that will inevitably follow.