British Man Miraculously Survives Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad
June 12, 2025
Ahmedabad, India — In what can only be described as a miracle, 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh has emerged as the sole survivor of a devastating Air India crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The London-bound Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 people including 53 British nationals, plunged into a medical college complex minutes after departure, erupting into a massive fireball that engulfed the Meghani Nagar residential area. Most feared the worst — that no one survived.
But amidst the chaos, Ramesh, seated in 11A, was pulled from the wreckage alive. From his hospital bed in Asarwa Civil Hospital, he recounted the harrowing moment to Hindustan Times: “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the crash. Everything happened so fast. When I got up, there were bodies all around. I just ran.”
Ramesh, who has lived in the UK for two decades and was visiting family in India, said he was still searching for his brother, who was on a different seat in the same aircraft. His brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, speaking from their family home in Leicester, said: “He has no idea how he made it out alive. We're devastated and still in shock.”
The crash site presented a grim scene: debris scattered, aircraft parts embedded in the structure of BJ Medical College, and thick plumes of black smoke filling the sky. Videos circulating online show the plane disappearing behind trees before the explosion, leaving residents and responders stunned.
Authorities initially believed there were no survivors, but Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed one survivor was rescued from seat 11A. Ramesh is now under treatment and recovering from what many are calling a miraculous escape.
Tragically, among the confirmed deceased are Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, and their four-year-old daughter, residents of Gloucester, UK. The Gloucester Muslim Community expressed their sorrow and asked for privacy for the grieving family.
38-year-old British national Ramesh Vishwaskumar, who was sitting on seat number 11A, is now reportedly the only survivor of the Air India plane crash.
— Global Index (@TheGlobal_Index) June 12, 2025
According to reports, he saved his life by jumping from the emergency exit. pic.twitter.com/A6DlVbQoKJ
Also onboard were Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, founders of The Wellness Foundry in South London. The couple had documented their travels across India and had just posted a farewell vlog before the tragedy struck.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement calling the crash “devastating,” while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “heartbreaking beyond words.” King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed their deepest condolences, stating they were “desperately shocked” by the loss of lives across so many nations.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has sent officials to India to assist with the inquiry. Air India confirmed the nationalities onboard: 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the UK, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens.
As the investigation unfolds, the survival of Ramesh remains a poignant reminder of hope amidst tragedy. His story stands as a symbol of resilience and the fragility of life, as families worldwide mourn the devastating loss.