Sole Survivor Walks Away Calmly from Air India Plane Crash

AHMEDABAD, India — In a shocking display of survival, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, was the only survivor of the Air India flight AI171 crash that occurred shortly after takeoff on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The airplane, which was en route to London Gatwick Airport, failed just seconds after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and crash-landed into a medical college, resulting in the tragic deaths of 270 people.

New video footage shows Ramesh calmly walking away from the wreckage as flames engulf the aircraft behind him. Witnesses captured the dramatic scene, with one man exclaiming, “The plane exploded,” amid the chaos surrounding him. Ramesh had been traveling with his brother, Ajay, who tragically did not survive the crash.

In a hospital interview with local media outlet DD India, Ramesh reflected on the incident, calling it “a miracle” that he escaped with only minor injuries, including abrasions on his left forearm and swelling around his eyes. He explained that although there were initial reports of him jumping from his seat, he simply walked out after the aircraft came to rest on the ground.

The moments leading up to the crash involved a loss of engine power, which preliminary findings suggest may have contributed to the aircraft’s failure to gain adequate altitude. The airplane reportedly only reached 450 feet before descending rapidly and crashing into the densely populated area.

Following the disaster, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India mandated urgent inspections of similar Boeing 787 aircraft operating within the country. They have recovered both black boxes from the wreckage, which will aid in determining the accident’s precise cause.

Vishwash’s father, who has been at his bedside, is still struggling with the grief of losing his son Ajay. Family friend Deepak Devjil expressed the family’s ongoing pain, stating, “He [Vishwash’s father] is still grappling with the tragedy.”

The investigation is ongoing, with aviation experts analyzing the recent footage and cockpit voice recordings to provide insights into the catastrophic crash, one of the worst aviation disasters of the decade.