Latest news with #AviationSafetyNetwork
14-06-2025
- General
Sole survivor of Air India crash describes failed takeoff and disbelief at being alive
NEW DELHI -- The lone passenger who survived an Air India crash couldn't believe he was alive when he opened his eyes and was surrounded by flames, debris and charred bodies. Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, was on the flight headed to London that crashed minutes after taking off from India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The accident killed 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. Recovery teams working until late Friday found at least 25 more bodies in the debris, officials said. It was one of India's worst aviation disasters and the first crash for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since the widebody, twin-engine planes went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Ramesh narrated his ordeal to India's national broadcaster from a local government hospital, saying the aircraft felt like it became stuck in midair within a few seconds of takeoff. Green and white lights flashed and the aircraft accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before the plane struck a medical college hostel in a residential area. He saw several passengers and crew members lose their lives. His brother was one of those who perished on board. Seated in 11A, Ramesh said his side of the plane landed on the ground floor of a building. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out through an open door. 'When I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive,' said Ramesh, who recalled parts of the plane strewn around the crash site. Ramesh sustained burn injuries on his left hand and walked some distance in shock before he was assisted by local residents and taken by ambulance to a hospital. Another brother told Sky News that Ramesh called his father moments after the crash to say he had survived but wasn't aware of what happened to his brother who was on the flight with him. 'He video called my dad as he crashed and said, 'Oh the plane's crashed. I don't know where my brother is. I don't see any other passengers. I don't know how I'm alive, how I exited the plane,'' Nayan Kumar Ramesh said. Ramesh's cousin, Ajay Valgi, told the BBC that Ramesh called relatives in Leicester, England, after the crash. 'He only said that he's fine, nothing else,' said Valgi, adding that Ramesh has a wife and a 'little boy' at home. The family is 'happy that he's OK, but we're still upset about the other brother.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who went to the crash site Friday, also visited the lone survivor in the hospital. 'I told Modi what all I had witnessed. He also enquired about my health,' Ramesh said from his bed. Dr. Dhaval Gameti said Ramesh, who kept his boarding pass with him in the hospital, was disoriented with multiple injuries over his body but seemed to be out of danger as the medical staff continued to monitor him. 'He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,' Gameti said Saturday.
Hamilton Spectator
14-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Sole survivor of Air India crash describes failed takeoff and disbelief at being alive
NEW DELHI (AP) — The lone passenger who survived an Air India crash couldn't believe he was alive when he opened his eyes and was surrounded by flames, debris and charred bodies. Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, was on the flight headed to London that crashed minutes after taking off from India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The accident killed 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. Recovery teams working until late Friday found at least 25 more bodies in the debris, officials said. It was one of India's worst aviation disasters and the first crash for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since the widebody, twin-engine planes went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Ramesh narrated his ordeal to India's national broadcaster from a local government hospital, saying the aircraft felt like it became stuck in midair within a few seconds of takeoff. Green and white lights flashed and the aircraft accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before the plane struck a medical college hostel in a residential area. He saw several passengers and crew members lose their lives. His brother was one of those who perished on board. Seated in 11A, Ramesh said his side of the plane landed on the ground floor of a building. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out through an open door. 'When I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive,' said Ramesh, who recalled parts of the plane strewn around the crash site. Ramesh sustained burn injuries on his left hand and walked some distance in shock before he was assisted by local residents and taken by ambulance to a hospital. Another brother told Sky News that Ramesh called his father moments after the crash to say he had survived but wasn't aware of what happened to his brother who was on the flight with him. 'He video called my dad as he crashed and said, 'Oh the plane's crashed. I don't know where my brother is. I don't see any other passengers. I don't know how I'm alive, how I exited the plane,'' Nayan Kumar Ramesh said. Ramesh's cousin, Ajay Valgi, told the BBC that Ramesh called relatives in Leicester, England, after the crash. 'He only said that he's fine, nothing else,' said Valgi, adding that Ramesh has a wife and a 'little boy' at home. The family is 'happy that he's OK, but we're still upset about the other brother.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who went to the crash site Friday, also visited the lone survivor in the hospital. 'I told Modi what all I had witnessed. He also enquired about my health,' Ramesh said from his bed. Dr. Dhaval Gameti said Ramesh, who kept his boarding pass with him in the hospital, was disoriented with multiple injuries over his body but seemed to be out of danger as the medical staff continued to monitor him. 'He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,' Gameti said Saturday. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
1News
14-06-2025
- General
- 1News
Sole survivor describes moments before Air India plane crash
The lone passenger who survived the Air India crash that killed 241 people onboard couldn't believe he was alive when he opened his eyes — surrounded by flames, debris and charred bodies. The British national of Indian origin, Viswashkumar Ramesh, was headed to London when the flight crashed minutes after taking off from India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon (local time). It was one of India's worst aviation disasters and the first crash for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since the widebody, twin-engine planes went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Currently admitted in a local government hospital, Ramesh narrated his ordeal to India's national broadcaster, saying the aircraft seemed stuck mid air within a few seconds of the take off. He said green and white lights came on, and immediately after that, the aircraft engines accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. ADVERTISEMENT People stand around debris at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) (Source: Associated Press) Seated in 11A, Ramesh said his side of the plane fell onto the ground floor of a building, and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. Ramesh sustained burn injuries on his left hand and walked some distance in shock before he was assisted by the locals and taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Viswashkumar Ramesh's ticket for seat 11A on Air India Flight 171. (Source: Supplied) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the crash side on Friday, met the lone survivor. "I told Modi what all I had witnessed. He also enquired about my health," Ramesh said from his hospital bed. ADVERTISEMENT Dr Dhaval Gameti, who treated him, said he was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body but seems to be out of danger. New Zealand's Indian community gathers at Auckland's Mahatma Gandhi Centre to pay respects to victims. (Source: 1News) Ramesh, who had his boarding pass with him in the hospital, said he saw several passengers and crew members dying and parts of the plane strewn around the crash site. Ramesh was traveling with his brother and called relatives in Leicester after the crash, his cousin, Ajay Valgi, told the BBC. He has a wife and "little boy" at home. "He only said that he's fine, nothing else," Valgi said, adding that the family is "happy that he's OK, but we're still upset about the other brother". Ramesh's brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, told Sky News that his brother called his father moments after the crash to say he had survived. "He video called my dad as he crashed and said, 'Oh the plane's crashed. I don't know where my brother is. I don't see any other passengers. I don't know how I'm alive, how I exited the plane'," he told Sky.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The sole survivor of Air India's crash described feeling stuck midair within seconds of takeoff
NEW DELHI (AP) — The lone passenger who survived the Air India crash that killed 241 people onboard couldn't believe he was alive when he opened his eyes, surrounded by flames, debris and charred bodies. The British national of Indian origin, Viswashkumar Ramesh, was headed to London when the flight crashed minutes after taking off from India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. It was one of India's worst aviation disasters and the first crash for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since the widebody, twin-engine planes went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Currently admitted in a local government hospital, Ramesh narrated his ordeal to India's national broadcaster, saying the aircraft seemed stuck midair within a few seconds of the takeoff. He said green and white lights came on, and right after that, the aircraft accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. Seated in 11A, Ramesh said his side of the plane fell onto the ground floor of a building, and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. 'When I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive,' he said. Ramesh sustained burn injuries on his left hand and walked some distance in shock before he was assisted by the locals and taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the crash side on Friday, met the lone survivor. 'I told Modi what all I had witnessed. He also enquired about my health,' Ramesh said from his hospital bed. Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who treated him, said he was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body but seems to be out of danger. Ramesh, who had his boarding pass with him in the hospital, said he saw several passengers and crew members losing their lives and parts of the plane strewn around the crash site. Ramesh was traveling with his brother and called relatives in Leicester after the crash, his cousin, Ajay Valgi, told the BBC. He has a wife and 'little boy' at home. 'He only said that he's fine, nothing else,' Valgi said, adding that the family is 'happy that he's OK, but we're still upset about the other brother.' Ramesh's brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh ,told Sky News that his brother called his father moments after the crash to say he had survived. 'He video called my dad as he crashed and said, 'Oh the plane's crashed. I don't know where my brother is. I don't see any other passengers. I don't know how I'm alive, how I exited the plane',' he told Sky. ___ This story corrects the spelling of Ramesh's first name. Rajesh Roy, The Associated Press
Gulf Today
13-06-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
VIDEO: Rescuers pull out one survivor from Air India crashed jet in Ahmedabad
Emergency personnel said that a male survivor has emerged from the ill-fated Air India jet that crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. According to reports, a 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, reported to have survived the Air India crash. He was seated away from his brother, who remains missing. Ramesh said, 'There was a huge bang just seconds after takeoff. I ran through smoke and fire.' He is one of the only confirmed survivors so far. Crumbled air ticket belonging to Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Media reports said police found one survivor on flight, another found in the hospital and under treatment On the other hand, Tata Group, which owns Air India, says it will give 1 crore rupees – the equivalent of around $117,000 – to the families of each person who was killed in the crash. It will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and provide support for rebuilding the medical hostel that was hit. "No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment," it says in a statement posted on X. The passenger plane bound for London with more than 242 people on board crashed Thursday in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad, and there were no known survivors, officials said. It was not immediately clear why the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of Dreamliner since it went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Air India said there were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian on the flight bound for London Gatwick Airport. Part of the plane fell on top of a medical college in Ahmedabad, killing at least five medical students and injuring nearly 50, according to a medical association.
