The London-bound plane crashed in India’s western city of Ahmedabad a few minutes after taking off.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole confirmed survivor of the Air India crash that claimed over 200 lives, has shared harrowing details of the ill-fated flight and his miraculous escape.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India Flight 171, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, issued a mayday call before going down around 1:40 PM local time (0810 GMT).
Ramesh, the only known survivor, revealed that the disaster struck just 30 seconds after takeoff, leaving little time for reaction. His account provides a chilling glimpse into the tragic incident, as authorities continue investigations into the cause of the crash.
According to Hindustan Times, the lone survivor recalled his instant reaction after realising he had survived the crash.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” Ramesh narrated.
“When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.”
Vishwash, a British national, was returning to the United Kingdom with his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh (45), after visiting India for a few days to see his family.
How the Indian plane crash occurred
Several footage posted on social media showed how the aircraft rapidly lost altitude, with its nose up, before hitting a building and exploding into a ball of fire.
The plane crashed into a building occupied by doctors and their families in a crowded residential area of Ahmedabad, a city home to about eight million people.
“We saw people from the building jumping from the second and third floor to save themselves. The plane was in flames,” a resident who declined to be named stated.
Air India, operators of the ill-fated plane, announced that the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and a Canadian. Two pilots and 10 cabin crew were also aboard.