Kathmandu – In a miraculous turn of events, Ramesh Vishwas Kumar emerged as the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had just taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London when it crashed within seconds of takeoff.
Out of 230 passengers and 12 crew members onboard, all were reported dead—except Kumar, who is currently undergoing treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. On learning of this extraordinary survival, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kumar at the hospital to personally inquire about his condition and offer words of encouragement.
During an emotional conversation with India’s state broadcaster DD News, Kumar shared details of his encounter with the Prime Minister. “He asked me, ‘How did the accident happen? How did you survive?’” said Kumar. “I’m still in shock—I don’t know how I made it out alive.”
“I Jumped Out Before the Flames Could Reach Me”
Kumar was seated in seat 11A at the time of the crash. He recalled the horrifying moments after the aircraft lost control. “As soon as the plane crashed, the door near me broke off. I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out. That’s why I wasn’t burned,” he explained.
“I saw everything unfold right in front of my eyes. For a moment, I thought I wouldn’t make it. When I regained consciousness, I saw charred bodies all around me. I was terrified. I just got up and ran,” he said, visibly shaken. He later added, “Someone grabbed me and placed me in an ambulance. That’s how I got here.”
Kumar’s account paints a vivid picture of the chaos inside the aircraft. “My seat was likely on the part of the aircraft that hit the lower portion of a nearby building. The upper part caught fire—many people were trapped there. I somehow fell to the ground with my seat. I saw a gap where the door had come off, so I made a run for it. On the other side, there was a wall—no one could have escaped from there.”
Deadliest Aviation Disaster in Recent Indian History
Flight AI-171 had taken off at 1:38 PM and crashed just two minutes later at 1:40 PM. Onboard were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian, among others. Tragically, all but Kumar perished in the crash.
The aircraft struck a residential building that houses doctors working at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. At the time of the crash, the building reportedly had 50 to 60 doctors inside, at least 15 of whom sustained injuries. Most bodies recovered from the wreckage were severely burned, making identification difficult.
Government Orders High-Level Probe
Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep concern and assured Kumar of the nation’s support. He urged him to stay strong and wished him a speedy recovery. He also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash, directing authorities to leave no stone unturned.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry to examine all possible angles, including mechanical failure, human error, and weather conditions at the time of takeoff.
Kumar’s story stands as a chilling yet awe-inspiring reminder of human resilience in the face of overwhelming tragedy. While the nation mourns the loss of so many lives, his survival offers a rare glimmer of hope.
