265 dead. One man survives. Find out how he escaped the burning wreck of the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad. A miracle story worth reading.
– As rescue teams recover charred bodies, one man lives to tell the tale of fire, fear, and fate –
In what experts have described as one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a residential area moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad city on Thursday, June 12, 2025, killing at least 265 people — including passengers, crew members, and residents on the ground.
But amid the wreckage, a shocking story of survival has emerged.
40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen from Leicester and the only survivor among 242 passengers and crew aboard, recounted how he escaped death in what he called a “miracle.” Speaking from his hospital bed on Friday, Ramesh gave a gripping account of the horrifying moment the aircraft exploded into flames.
“Everything happened in front of me. Even I couldn’t believe how I survived,” he told India’s national broadcaster, DD News, in a voice filled with emotion.
Seconds from Death
Ramesh, seated on 11A, recalled how shortly after takeoff, the aircraft began behaving abnormally. He noticed the cabin lights changing rapidly, describing how green and white lights flashed and the plane began to swerve.
Then — impact.
“The plane seemed to speed up unnaturally and went straight into a hospital hostel building. I saw everything. I thought I was about to die,” he said.
While most parts of the aircraft were engulfed in flames, Ramesh believes his seat was positioned in a section that didn’t absorb the brunt of the blast.
“When I opened my eyes, everything was on fire. I quickly unfastened my seatbelt. I think I was on the side facing open ground. When my door broke open, I saw space and ran.”
Tragedy on the Ground
Authorities confirmed that 24 people on the ground also died, bringing the death toll to 265. The aircraft, which was fully fuelled for its long-haul journey to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just outside the airport perimeter.
The wreckage devastated residential homes and a hostel facility near a hospital, prompting an urgent deployment of rescue teams, sniffer dogs, and DNA testing units to identify victims.
Modi Visits Survivor
Footage released on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s YouTube channel showed him visiting Ramesh at the hospital on Friday. Modi reportedly praised the hospital staff for their quick response and assured full government support to victims’ families.
Ramesh suffered burns on his left hand and other injuries but is reportedly stable and receiving comprehensive care. His brother was also on the flight, but his fate has not been officially confirmed by the family.
Who Was on Board?
Air India confirmed the manifest included:
169 Indian nationals
53 British citizens
7 Portuguese nationals
1 Canadian citizen
12 crew members
Authorities have begun DNA identification for the scorched remains, as most victims were burned beyond recognition.
Meanwhile, the black box and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered for analysis as investigators seek answers on what caused the mechanical failure shortly after takeoff.
THE BIG QUESTION:
How did one man survive an inferno that killed 265? As investigations begin, the world watches, stunned by a lone man’s escape — and haunted by the lives lost.
