The moment the sole survivor of the Air India plane crash managed to escape the burning wreckage has been released in new footage.
On June 12, 40-year-old British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh miraculously managed to crawl out and walk away from the wreckage of the Air India flight that killed all other 241 passengers and crew.
The doomed AI171 jet destined for London also killed dozens more on the ground, with the death toll officially rising to 270, as it crashed into a building used for doctors’ accommodation for a medical college less than a minute after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India.
The authorities are yet to determine what went wrong with the Boeing 787-8, which stands as one of the worst aviation disasters this century.
Ramesh was seen limping through the streets after the crash (Republic)
Ramesh was sat in seat 11a on the plane and is the only person to have survived the ordeal, which saw the jet go up in flames from a giant fireball when it plummeted into the residential area.
The father-of-one from Leicester recalled from his hospital bed that he managed to ‘unbuckle’ himself from his seat and used his leg to push through an opening where he crawled out to safety.
“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,” he added to local news media.
The official death toll has climbed to 270 (Raju Shinde/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Now, the inexplicable moment Ramesh emerged from the wreckage has been revealed in new footage.
He could be seen walking away, dazed and limping, while plumes of thick black smoke and an inferno from the building and burning jet raged just meters behind him.
A new video shows the moment the sole survivor of #AirIndiaCrash walking out of flames.. @Kshatriyadilip
Meanwhile, frantic people in the streets could be heard making calls to emergency services.
A passerby then approached the bleeding survivor and guided him away from the wreckage into the arms of emergency services as dozens more rushed to his aid.
Ramesh, who was returning home to his family in the UK alongside his brother Ajay on the flight, tragically lost his sibling who was sitting in a seat on the same row.
He revealed in an interview with Indian state media DD News that the part of the jet he was sitting in was near to the ground and had not made contact with the building.
No one else on the plane survived the crash (Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Although the emergency door was broken, incredibly Ramesh said he didn’t have to jump to the ground and said he ‘just walked out’.
As for how the tragedy happened, Ramesh admits he ‘can’t explain’ everything but recalled a ‘loud noise’ and ‘flickering lights’ inside the aircraft within seconds of taking off.
“I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me,” he told the Indian broadcaster. “For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too, but when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive.
He told local news media how he managed to survive the ordeal (DD India/YouTube)
“I still can’t believe how I survived. I walked out of the rubble.”
Doctors treating him have confirmed Ramesh suffered only minor injuries, with abrasions to his arm and some swelling to his eyes, but is fortunately ‘vitally stable’.
Authorities have managed to recover the jet’s black box from the crash site – from the rooftop of a nearby building – which will reveal second-by-second what took place before the fatal collision, including pilot conversations, radio transmissions and any other warning alarms or signs.
Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD of Air India, has also pledged an interim payment of 25 lakh rupees, or approximately £21,000 (around $28,000), to each of the families of the deceased and survivors in addition to the 1 crore rupees, approx £85,000 ($115k), committed by Tata Sons.
Featured Image Credit: X/NewIndianXpress
Topics: Air India, India, Plane, World News
Liv Bridge
Sole survivor of Air India plane crash describes exactly how he escaped during disaster that killed 241 others
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of the plane crash
The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash has revealed exactly how he got out during the disaster that killed more than 200 people.
On Thursday (June 12), a 40-year-old British man miraculously managed to walk away from the wreckage of the Air India flight that killed all other 241 passengers and crew, as well as dozens more on the ground.
The doomed AI171 jet had departed from Ahmedabad and was bound for London Gatwick when it crashed less than a minute after takeoff into residential buildings.
The Boeing 787-8 was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board, comprised of 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national, and seven Portuguese nationals.
Now, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was sat in seat 11a on the plane and stands as the sole survivor, has revealed how he managed to get out of the wreckage.
The jet crashed into a building just moments after take off (SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking to the Hindustan Times from a hospital bed in Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Ramesh said: “Thirty seconds after takeoff there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.
“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.”
He added to Indian state media DD News exactly how he managed to free himself.
Ramesh said: “I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out.”
He also recalls how the lights inside the aircraft ‘started flickering’ moments after take off.
Then, seconds later, he said it was like the plane was ‘stuck in the air’.
“The lights started flickering green and white…suddenly slammed into a building and exploded,” he added.
Footage shows he managed to escape the wreckage (Republic)
The jet crashed into a building used as accommodation for doctors at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital.
The father-of-one from Leicester said the part of the plane he was sat in was near to the ground and had not made contact with the building.
“When the door broke and I saw there was some space, I tried to get out of there and I did,” he continued.
“No one could have got out from the opposite side, which was towards the wall, because it crashed there.”
Footage which has since gone viral then shows Ramesh walking away from the wreckage towards an ambulance.
He recalled how he managed to survive (DD India/YouTube)
“I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me,” he told the Indian broadcaster.
“For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too, but when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive.
“I still can’t believe how I survived. I walked out of the rubble.”
Doctor Dhaval Gameti, who it treating Ramesh, said: “He was disorientated, with multiple injuries all over his body. But he seems to be out of danger.”
The cause of the crash is still being investigated, as officials say the jet’s black box which has been recovered from the crash site will be analysed.
Police have also not yet given a final figure of fatalities, from the plane and those on the ground below.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site and said in a statement that the country is ‘devastated by the air tragedy’.
He added: “The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Condolences to all the bereaved families. We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come. Om Shanti.”
Featured Image Credit: DD News
Topics: Air India, Plane, World News, India
Liv Bridge
Air India CEO gives new update on how much it will pay families and survivor affected in plane crash that killed 241
The CEO has revealed those affected will get an interim payment
Air India’s CEO has given an update on how much it will pay families and survivors affected by the plane crash that killed 241.
Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD of Air India has revealed in video posted to social media just how much the families affected by the doomed flight will receive in monetary compensation.
On Thursday (June 12), a 40-year-old British man became the sole survivor of the London-bound Air India flight that had departed from Ahmedabad and crashed less than a minute after takeoff into residential buildings.
The crash killed all other 241 passengers and crew, as well as dozens more on the ground.
The crash killed more than 200 people including passengers and people on the ground (Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images)
Wilson has now said Air India will be issuing financial support to those affected with an interim payment of 25 lakh rupees, or approximately £21,000 (around $28,000), to each of the families of the deceased and also the survivors.
“This is in addition to the 1 crore rupees, or approximately £85,000, already committed by Tata Sons,” he continued.
The CEO then explained that the company is beginning its next stages and working with the grieving families.
“The process of reuniting next of kin with their loved ones and personal effects has begun,” Wilson continued. “Our teams are working closely with the families and the authorities to help the reunification process and, where appropriate, with repatriation.”
“This is an emotional process and we ask that families be given space.”
Message from Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India.
Widespread safety checks are also being carried out across all of its fleet.
“Air India is also in the process of completing precautionary safety checks on Boeing 787 aircraft as directed by our regulator, the DGCA,” Wilson said.
“We will complete all checks within the timelines prescribed by the regulator.”
The plane seemingly fell out of the sky (Press Information Bureau (PIB) / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Since the jet came down on Thursday, the authorities confirmed its black box was recovered from the crash site and an investigation is underway to determine what happened.
Wilson continued: “As has been confirmed by the authorities, the aircraft’s data recorder has been recovered, which will form part of the official investigation and Air India continues to fully cooperate with these investigations.”
“At this juncture, I also wish to acknowledge the work done by first responders and those from many organisations since the accident and also to our crew, who continue to operate with professionalism and with safety always as their primary responsibility.
“Thank you,” he concluded.
His statement comes as the authorities are yet to determine how and why the plane came down so suddenly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport.
The captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, had called out down his radio: “Mayday […] no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”
Within minutes, it then crashed into a residential area, Meghani Nagar, and into a medical college hostel where it erupted into a massive fireball.
Featured Image Credit: @airindia/Twitter
Topics: Air India, India, World News, Plane
Liv Bridge
Sole survivor spoke out after Air India plane with 242 on board crashed shortly after takeoff
The survivor spoke of his shock and surprise at the whole incident
Authorities have confirmed that at least one person survived the deadly Air India plane crash and he has spoken to local media about his ordeal.
An Indian flight leaving from Ahmedabad and was bound for London Gatwick crashed back to earth moments after taking off on June 12.
The Air India flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board and of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.
The seemingly sole survivor of the plane crash was a British national, 40 year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
Ramesh, who was sat in 11a of the flight has spoken to the media about surviving the crash and about his confusion on how he survived.
There is thought to be only one survivor from the plane crash carrying 242(Narendra Modi/Twitter)
The cause of the crash is still under investigation and police have not yet given a final figure of fatalities, from the plane and those on the ground below.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times from a hospital bed in Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Ramesh said: “Thirty seconds after takeoff there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.
“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.”
Members of Ramesh’s family have also spoken to the media from Leicester and added that Ramesh has ‘no idea’ how he escaped but they added that he is now doing well.
Dr Dhaval Gameti, who treated Ramesh, said: “He was disorientated, with multiple injuries all over his body. But he seems to be out of danger.”
Speaking of his ordeal, Ramesh said: “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran.” (Republic)
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also released a statement on the incident after visiting the crash site.
Sharing pictures of the scene, on a Twitter post, he wrote: “Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy.
“We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Condolences to all the bereaved families. We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come. Om Shanti.”
Featured Image Credit: Republic
Topics: News, World News, Air India, India, Plane
Gerrard Kaonga
Aviation expert explains one detail which didn’t look right on Air India plane as pilot’s tragic ‘final words’ revealed
The Air India plane never made it to its London Gatwick destination
The Air India plane that plummeted to the earth with 242 people on board has sparked a lot of questions.
On June 12, an Air India flight left Ahmedabad and was heading for London Gatwick before it suddenly started to fall out of the sky.
Video footage has shown the rapid descent of the plane and upon impact, there was a massive explosion, and plume of smoke was seen rising into the sky.
According to the airline, there were 242 passengers and crew members on board.
Air India added: “Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.”
Authorities have confirmed that the plane crash landed only four miles away from the airport after only reaching a height of around 625 feet.
The plane crash landed a few miles from the airport only minuntes after takeoff (Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
There have also been reports of one sole survivor from the plane crash, who is still currently in hospital.
An investigation has been launched into what caused the tragedy, but an aviation expert has weighed in on the potential issues that may have arisen.
Former British Airways pilot Alastair Rosenschein spoke to Sky News after analyzing footage of the plane crash.
Rosenschein pointed out some clear issues that he says may have contributed to the plane failing to take off properly.
He said: “It’s clearly got its [landing] gear down and that is not correct… it should have been up. And from the video… it’s not immensely clear… but it does look like the aircraft didn’t have its take-off flap setting.”
The expert emphasized the importance of the wing flaps and how they need to be set correctly to extend the shape of each wing and ultimately give the plane the extra lift needed at lower speeds to take off and climb.
He did note that, at this time, he is only speculating that this could have been a factor.
Authorities are currently still investigating the cause of the plane crash and have not released an official statement on the root cause.
Aurthorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash (Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He added: “[This] could explain why the aircraft came down [as the] aircraft would not have been able to maintain flight.
“The video is not that clear, but it [the flaps setting] doesn’t look right to me.
“The altitude of the aircraft isn’t right either and the aircraft seems to be descending rather than climbing.
“It does look like it’s an aerodynamic issue because of not having the right flaps setting on take-off.”
His comments come after authorities have revealed the alleged final words of the pilot who was flying the plane.
The captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, called out down his radio: “Mayday […] no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”
Sabharwal reportedly had 22 years worth of experience and had raked up 8,200 hours in the air.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/SAM PANTHAKY
