A 40-year-old British-Indian man from London has emerged as the only known survivor of the devastating Air India Flight AI171 crash that claimed more than 200 lives near Ahmedabad Airport on Monday morning.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who had been visiting family in Ahmedabad, was on his return journey to London when the aircraft went down shortly after take-off, resulting in one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
Sole Survivor Recounts Horror
Speaking from his hospital bed to the Hindustan Times, Ramesh described the terrifying moments before the crash: "About thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud bang, and everything just fell apart. It happened so fast. When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by bodies. I panicked and started running. Debris was everywhere. Someone pulled me out and rushed me to an ambulance."
Ramesh sustained injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet and is currently receiving medical treatment. Initial reports had indicated at least 40 fatalities, but the death toll has since risen dramatically with over 200 passengers now confirmed dead.
Flight Details and Crash Investigation
The London-bound flight was carrying 242 people when it lost contact with air traffic control moments after departure. According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, the last recorded signal from the aircraft came when it was at an altitude of just 625 feet (190 metres).
The plane crashed into a densely populated residential area housing medical staff, triggering a massive fireball and widespread devastation on the ground. Local authorities in Ahmedabad have confirmed Ramesh as the only survivor thus far.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and officials have not yet released details about potential factors that might have contributed to the disaster.
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