A British national has emerged as the sole confirmed survivor so far of a devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, that has killed hundreds. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating flight AI171 to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after take-off on 12 June 2025.
According to Air India, 242 people were on board, comprising 217 adults, 11 children, two infants, and crew members. Of these, 241 have been confirmed dead, with Mr Viswashkumar as the sole known passenger survivor at this stage.
The survivor, 40-year-old Ramesh Viswashkumar, managed to escape by jumping out of an emergency exit.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he described the horrifying scene to Indian media, saying, “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.”
Police confirmed that Mr Viswashkumar had been seated in 11A, adjacent to the emergency exit, which may have aided his survival. Senior police officer Vidhi Chaudhary stated, “He was near the emergency exit and managed to escape by jumping out the emergency door.”
Mr Viswashkumar was travelling with his brother, Ajay, who was seated elsewhere on the aircraft and remains missing. “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” he said.
The aircraft crashed into a hostel at the BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar residential area of Ahmedabad, close to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The accident occurred at around 1:39 pm local time, shortly after the flight issued a mayday call.
However, the total death toll continues to rise because the crash also claimed lives on the ground. Officials reported that approximately 50 students from the hostel were injured, with at least five still missing. Rescue teams continue to search through the debris.
Footage aired on Indian news channels showed Mr Viswashkumar limping away from the wreckage, bloodied but conscious, as emergency responders assisted him.
His cousin, Ajay Valgi, told the BBC that Mr Viswashkumar spoke briefly to confirm he was alive but offered little further detail. “He only said that he was fine, nothing else,” Valgi said. The family is still searching for Mr Viswashkumar’s brother Ajay.
Outside the family home in Leicester, his brother Nayan Kumar Ramesh described the family’s anguish. “We are all devastated and in a state of shock at the moment. Even though one of my brothers survived, my other one is missing,” he said.
Mr Viswashkumar, who resides in the UK with his wife and son, sustained injuries to his face, chest, and other parts of his body. According to Nayan, he video-called their father after the crash, saying, “The plane’s crashed. I don’t know where my brother is. I don’t see any other passengers.”
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved was delivered to Air India in January 2014 and entered commercial service in 2011. This marks the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner model.
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran described the incident as a “tragic accident” and “devastating event.” The airline, owned by Tata Group since 2022, has faced operational challenges despite undergoing recent restructuring.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, expressed his grief, saying, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.”
King Charles said he was “desperately shocked” by the disaster. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that British authorities are working closely with Indian counterparts and encouraged affected families to contact the Foreign Office.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has sent officials to assist with the investigation. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and search and recovery operations are ongoing. Authorities continue to examine whether any additional passengers or residents may have survived.
Video from the scene showed extensive wreckage embedded in buildings, with plumes of smoke rising from the crash site as firefighters battled the blaze and rescue teams sifted through the debris.
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