An Air India flight departing from Ahmedabad, western India, tragically crashed near London’s Gatwick Airport, claiming the lives of all 241 passengers and crew on board. Additionally, at least eight people on the ground — including four medical students — were killed in the disaster. In a miraculous turn of events, a single passenger, 40-year-old British national Viswashkumar Ramesh, survived the crash.
Ramesh was seated in seat 11A, near an emergency exit — a detail believed to have been key to his escape. Despite suffering injuries, he managed to flee the burning wreckage just moments before it completely disintegrated upon impact with a nearby warehouse structure.
Police and hospital officials confirmed that Ramesh sustained burns and bruises, but his injuries are not life-threatening. He is currently receiving treatment under medical supervision. Tragically, he was traveling with his brother, who did not survive the crash. “I thought I was going to die… then I saw the hatch open,” Ramesh reportedly told emergency responders.
His incredible survival has shocked investigators and aviation officials, who now regard his eyewitness account as vital to understanding the circumstances of the crash. As authorities examine the black box recovered from the Boeing 787, aviation experts have described Ramesh’s survival as “statistically extraordinary.”
Tributes continue to flood in for the victims of the crash. The Indian government has vowed to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. Meanwhile, psychological support and financial compensation are being provided to the victims’ families. Ramesh remains under protection as both a survivor and a key witness in what is now considered one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in India’s history.
