Man seen limping away in viral video hours after police declared no survivors
In a stunning turn of events, a survivor has emerged from the wreckage of the Air India AI-171 crash that devastated a residential area in Ahmedabad earlier today. Hours after authorities initially declared that no one had survived the disaster, police confirmed that a lone passenger had been found alive.
Survivor identified as British-Indian national
The survivor has been identified as 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian citizen who was returning to the United Kingdom after visiting family in India. According to reports, he was traveling with his brother, who is currently unaccounted for.
Ramesh was occupying seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A cellphone video circulating online shows him walking with a visible limp, dressed in a white t-shirt and dark trousers marked with soot and blood. His injuries appear to be non-life-threatening, though officials confirmed he is undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
“The police found one survivor in seat 11A,” Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Lone survivor in Ahmedabad plane crash JUMPED from the aircraft at the last moment — India Today
His name is Ramesh Vishwaskumar, he was assigned to Seat 11A near the emergency exit
Air India flight AI-171, carrying 242 people including crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft had reached an altitude of approximately 825 feet before it began an uncontrolled descent.
Witnesses described a terrifying sequence of events, beginning with a mayday call from the cockpit, followed by a massive fireball lighting up the afternoon sky. A thick plume of black smoke was seen rising for miles.
“One survivor has been found in the hospital and is under treatment. Cannot say anything about the number of deaths yet. The death toll may increase as the flight crashed in a residential area,” Commissioner Malik added.
Cause of crash still unknown
While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, aviation experts are looking into possible engine failure or mechanical malfunction. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash was reportedly in good condition and only 11 years old, well within its service lifespan.
The recovery of the aircraft’s black box is expected to shed light on what led to the sudden and catastrophic failure.
Authorities continue search and rescue efforts amid debris and damaged homes, as the nation watches with hope that more survivors may yet be found.
