The tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of at least 270 people, continues to send shockwaves across the globe. Among the heart-wrenching stories emerging from the disaster is that of a local teenager who captured the final moments of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on video. The teen, whose name has not been officially released, has spoken about the harrowing experience, describing the fear and disbelief he felt as he witnessed the plane plummet from the sky.
According to reports, the teenager was near the Ahmedabad airport when he noticed the Air India flight struggling shortly after takeoff. "It seemed like the aircraft was stuck," Viswashkumar Ramesh, the lone survivor also stated. The young man instinctively pulled out his phone and began recording, capturing the aircraft's descent and the subsequent explosion as it crashed into a medical college hostel.
"I was scared," the teenager said in an interview with a local news channel. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was like something out of a movie, but it was real. I just kept recording, hoping someone would survive." The video, which has since been widely circulated on social media, provides a chilling glimpse into the final seconds of the flight. It shows the plane engulfed in flames as it hurtles towards the ground, followed by a massive explosion and plumes of smoke.
The teenager's footage has become a crucial piece of evidence for investigators, who are working to determine the cause of the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has recovered the plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box and has started working to extract the data. The device is expected to reveal information about the engine and control settings, while the voice recorder will provide cockpit conversations. Investigators are likely looking at whether wing flaps were set correctly, the engine lost power, alarms were going off inside the cockpit, and if the plane's crew correctly logged information about the hot temperature outside and the weight of the fuel and passengers.
Meanwhile, the focus remains on the victims and their families. Rescue teams continue to scour the crash site, searching for remains and personal belongings. The majority of the bodies recovered are charred or mutilated, and local authorities are working to identify them through DNA samples. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Air India plane, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian.
Amid the devastation, the story of the lone survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, has offered a glimmer of hope. Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, was traveling with his brother, who tragically died in the crash. He was sitting in seat 11A and has described his miraculous escape, saying, "I can't believe myself how I came out of it alive, because for a while I thought I was going to die as well. But when I opened my eyes, I saw that I was alive. So I tried to open my seat belt, and I was able to get out."
As investigations continue, the world mourns the lives lost in the Air India crash. The teenager's video serves as a stark reminder of the tragedy, while also highlighting the courage and resilience of those affected.
