A routine flight turned catastrophic on Thursday when Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 people and leaving only one survivor. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, slammed into a medical college hostel near the airport just minutes after takeoff, marking one of the deadliest air disasters in India’s modern history.
There were 242 passengers and crew onboard. Among the dead were Indian, British, Canadian, and Portuguese nationals. Rescue teams continue to comb through wreckage, but officials confirmed the flight’s tail was embedded in the hostel’s rooftop as plumes of smoke engulfed the surrounding area.
Miracle in Seat 11A: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh Survives
The only survivor was identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin. Seated in 11A, near the emergency exit, he managed to escape the wreckage just after the aircraft slammed into the building. A viral video shows him walking away, dazed and bloodied.
Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,
Said Vishwash
His brother, seated elsewhere on the plane, did not survive.
Doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital say Ramesh suffered minor injuries and is in stable condition. Aviation analysts expressed shock at his survival, given his seat’s proximity to the wing, typically a high-impact zone. Former FAA inspector David Soucie called it “incredibly surprising.” British MP Shivani Raja called it “nothing short of a miracle.”
Global Leaders React as Grief Spreads
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat, said he was “stunned and saddened” by the tragedy. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement calling the crash “devastating,” confirming that British officials are working with Indian authorities to assist families and support the investigation.
Inside the hostel where the plane crashed, at least three medical students were also killed and 30 others injured, according to hospital officials. The death toll may still rise, with several victims yet to be formally identified.
Final Word: A Nation in Shock, a Survivor’s Story Unfolding
India has not experienced a disaster of this magnitude since the Air India Express crash in Kozhikode in 2020, which killed 21. Thursday’s crash not only reopens questions around aviation safety and fleet readiness, but also reminds the world how fragile life can be and how, sometimes, seat 11A becomes a symbol of impossible survival.