Sole Survivor Recounts Horror of Air India Crash That Killed 241
Ahmedabad : In a miraculous escape from one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history, 40-year-old Ramesh Viswashkumar has emerged as the sole survivor of Thursday’s Air India plane crash that claimed 241 lives.
The ill-fated flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, ploughing into a medical college hostel and leaving behind a trail of devastation. Authorities confirmed multiple fatalities among those on the ground as well.
Viswashkumar, who was seated on 11A near the emergency exit, described the terrifying moments leading up to the crash. “For some time I thought I was going to die. But when I opened my eyes and realised I was alive, I unbuckled myself and escaped through a broken hatch,” he told DD News from his hospital bed on Friday, still wearing a blood-stained T-shirt and visibly shaken.
According to police and medical officials, Viswashkumar sustained only minor injuries, including burns on his left arm and facial bruises. Doctors have confirmed he is in stable condition and is recovering well.
Recalling the sequence of events, Viswashkumar said the aircraft seemed to pause in midair seconds after take-off. The green and white cabin lights flickered, and although he felt the engine thrust increase, the plane suddenly “crashed with speed into the hostel.”
“The side of the plane I was on had space outside, so when the emergency door broke open, I crawled out. The other side was crushed against the building—no one could have survived there,” he recounted.
Rescue teams continued to search the hostel’s charred remains on Friday for possible survivors and aircraft debris. Several hostel residents and bystanders are among the confirmed dead, with more feared missing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and later met Viswashkumar in hospital, praising his courage and expressing condolences to all affected families.
A detailed investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, with authorities not ruling out technical failure as a possible reason.
