British Man Survives Air India Crash That Killed 241 Passengers

A British man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, is the sole survivor of an Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, killing 241 others onboard. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, including 53 British nationals, crashed minutes after departing at 1:38 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 12.

Ramesh, seated in 11A, described hearing a loud noise just 30 seconds after takeoff before the plane went down, crashing into the Meghani Nagar residential area and colliding with BJ Medical College. The impact created a massive fireball, with videos showing large explosions and thick smoke. Despite suffering multiple injuries, Ramesh managed to escape and was taken to a hospital, where doctors confirmed he is out of danger.

Ramesh was traveling back to London, where he lives with his wife and child. His brother, who was also onboard, remains unaccounted for. Family members in the UK expressed their shock, with his younger brother saying, “We’re devastated. He has no idea how he survived.”

Air India confirmed that the passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens. Among the victims were UK residents Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, their daughter, and the Greenlaw-Meeks couple, known for running a wellness center in London.

UK and Indian authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. Leaders from both countries, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and India’s Narendra Modi, called the tragedy heartbreaking and devastating.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com