A devastating crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft has left 269 people dead, with only one survivor emerging from the wreckage.
The flight, AI171, had just departed from Ahmedabad en route to London when it plummeted to the ground roughly 30 seconds after takeoff on June 12, 2025.
The ill-fated flight was carrying 241 passengers and crew.
Tragically, the aircraft also crashed into a college hostel near the airport, killing at least 28 people on the ground.
The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Among the carnage, a single passenger, 40-year-old British-Indian national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, miraculously survived. Speaking from his hospital bed with visible injuries to his chest, face, arms, and feet, Ramesh recounted the extraordinary moment he escaped the doomed aircraft.
“I don’t even know how it happened,” he said, still in disbelief. “I just saw a space when the door broke, and I moved. I tried to get out… and somehow, I did. I walked out.”
Emergency responders confirmed that Ramesh was conscious when they arrived and managed to walk toward the ambulance, despite his severe injuries.
Describing the ordeal as nothing short of a miracle, he added, “It feels unreal. I can’t explain it. It’s a miracle that I’m alive.”
The emotional weight of the tragedy remains heavy for Ramesh, who was traveling with his brother, Ajay. “He was with me… but no one has found him yet,” he said quietly. “I’m hoping, praying… but they say he’s probably gone.”
Authorities are continuing the investigation into what caused the crash. Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft lost altitude shortly after takeoff, but the exact cause remains unknown.