Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national from Leicester, is being hailed as a "miracle" after surviving the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed on Thursday, killing all 241 other passengers and crew members on board, including his brother.
News outlets are calling it the UK's worst air disaster since 1985. Initial reports indicate the aircraft crashed into a hostel housing medical students, doctors, and their families, resulting in additional casualties on the ground.
Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, remarkably emerged from the "smouldering wreck," reportedly "dazed and startled," according to Metro. He was seen limping away from the disaster scene, aided by police. The Sun has dubbed him the "miracle Brit in seat 11A."
The "i Paper" reports that the victims included 169 Indians, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The Daily Mail featured a photo of Mr. Ramesh's boarding pass, with seat 11A circled, on its front page.
Details remain scarce about how Ramesh survived the impact. Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who treated Ramesh, told the Associated Press that Ramesh was disoriented and suffered multiple injuries all over his body but appeared to be out of danger. According to one report, a medic said that Ramesh was thrown from the plane and walked to a nearby ambulance for help.
Ramesh reportedly contacted his family after the crash, telling them, "I don't know how I'm alive," according to The Daily Telegraph. His family told the Daily Star that "he had no idea how he walked away from the wreckage."
The crash has triggered widespread grief and shock. King Charles III expressed he was "desperately shocked" by the disaster, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as "heartbreaking."
The incident is the first crash of a Boeing 787 model since it began service in 2011. Aviation experts are investigating potential causes, including engine failure, bird strike, or a problem with the wing's position.
The Air India Flight 171 crash is now considered the worst accident involving a single aircraft in India. The only plane accident in India with more casualties was the mid-air collision of two aircraft over Charkhi Dadri in Haryana in 1996, in which 349 people died.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on the victims and their families, and the extraordinary survival of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh against all odds. Social media is abuzz with reactions, with many users describing the event as "unreal," "remarkable," and "a miracle".
