Latest news with #survivor
CBC
8 hours ago
- CBC
WATCH — Is seat 11A really the safest seat on an airplane?
Flying is still the safest mode of transport, experts say CONTENT WARNING: This story contains information about people dying in plane crashes. Consider reading it with a trusted adult. It's common to have an emotional reaction to the news. Is there really a 'safest seat' on an airplane? On June 12, an Air India flight crashed minutes after takeoff in the Indian city of Ahmedabad. Several people on the ground died, along with 241 on board. One passenger survived. Why kids should still feel safe to fly despite deadly D.C. plane crash Vishwashkumar Ramesh was that sole survivor, and was sitting in seat 11A. He jumped through a nearby emergency exit after the crash. So why has seat 11A gone viral online? Turns out Thai singer and actor James Ruangsak Loychusak — who was one of the survivors of a deadly 1998 Thai Airways plane crash — sat in the same seat. 'That was an uncanny coincidence,' he told India's The Telegraph Online after the crash. 'The kind that gives you goosebumps.' CBC Kids News was not able to confirm that he was actually sitting in seat 11A, but it turns out it may not really matter. Check the video below to find out more about seat 11A from CBC Kids News contributor Ainara Alleyne. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Why your seat choice doesn't really matter Aviation experts say plane crashes are random, and any seat can improve your survivability depending on the unique aspects of a crash. These include things like the way the aircraft breaks apart, the type of impact, where someone is sitting and timing, for example. All about airplanes: Aviation experts answer kids' questions about flying 'Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location,' Mitchell Fox, a director at Flight Safety Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit, told Reuters. Two men in plane crashes more than 20 years apart both survived sitting in seat 11A. On the left is the recent crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft in Ahmedabad, India. The image on the right depicts the 1998 crash of a Thai Airways Airbus A310 in Surat Thani, Thailand. Image credit: (Adnan Abidi/Reuters, and Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images) Also, seat 11A isn't in the same spot on every airplane and may not always be as close to an emergency exit. That being said, experts say sitting near an emergency exit can improve chances of evacuation in less severe crashes. In any case, don't let all this talk of crashes scare you — flying is still by far the safest mode of transportation. You're more likely to be struck by lightning than end up in a plane crash, experts say. Have more questions? Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the 'send us feedback' link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ With files from Natalie Stechyson/CBC News
.png%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
9 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Simon Calder answers your air travel safety questions – from Boeing worries to the truth about budget airlines
The crash of Air India flight AI171 has shaken confidence in air travel and triggered an outpouring of questions during a recent Independent Ask Me Anything. It was the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an aircraft that had safely carried over a billion passengers since entering service in 2011. But on 12 June, just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad, the flight bound for London Gatwick crashed. Only one of the 242 people on board survived. Dozens more died on the ground. A preliminary report is expected in about three months. If there is evidence of a previously unknown problem that could jeopardise the safety of other aircraft, investigators will announce their initial conclusions as soon as possible. As always in the early stages of an investigation, aviation safety experts will consider a wide spectrum of possible contributory factors – from mechanical issues to the behaviour of the pilots, who, until and unless anything is known to the contrary, are presumed blameless. Lessons on how to improve safety in future will be shared with the aviation community. That is how aviation safety works: it is built on lessons learnt from past tragedies. A lot of attention has focused on seat 11A, where the sole survivor of the Air India tragedy was located. But there is no such thing as a guaranteed safest seat on an aircraft. As long-in-the-tooth safety experts tend to say: 'Tell me what sort of accident you're planning to have, and I'll tell you the safest place to sit.' As I told readers during the Q&A, the most useful contribution every passenger can make is to pay full attention to the safety briefing. Make it 'muscle memory' to know where your nearest exit is – and under no circumstances stop to collect your cabin baggage. Several readers asked whether flying is still safe, whether budget airlines cut corners, and if Boeing can still be trusted. Others asked about the world's riskiest airports and how to stay calm in the face of fear. These are important questions – and the answers matter more now than ever. Below are selected highlights from the Ask Me Anything, where I responded as directly and clearly as possible. For those who want to go deeper, you can sign up to my weekly AMA email, exclusively for Independent Premium subscribers. Sophieeeeeee A: Airports are extremely variable in the degree of challenge they present to pilots. Some in Europe and worldwide require special training. These include Innsbruck in Austria, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Funchal in Madeira. But that doesn't make them more dangerous: as with so much in aviation, providing extra training is part of designing out risk. Tragically, there is one part of the world where the terrain is difficult and where accidents happen far too frequently: Nepal. However, while the airports are extremely challenging, procedures and training should mitigate the risk. Q: How do you stay calm and realistic about flight safety? SimonL A: Look at the numbers. On that tragic Thursday, 12 June, more than 270 people lost their lives aboard Air India flight 171 and on the ground. Yet the same day, far more road users in India died in accidents. You are far safer on an aircraft than on the roads – in any part of the world – and in Europe, crashes are extraordinarily rare. Q: If I ever feel something's off during a flight, is there anything I can actually do? Jase A: Aviation has many cases in which passengers have alerted crew to a dangerous situation, and you should certainly speak up if you consider the safety of the aircraft is jeopardised. Q: Should we worry about flying on a Boeing? Colette Austin A: Boeing has made thousands of superb aircraft. I would not hesitate to fly on one of its planes. The world's safest airline (in terms of passengers carried without a fatal accident), Ryanair, flies only Boeing 737 aircraft. But in the past decade, its safety culture has been called into question. Shocking shortcomings at the plane manufacturer were exposed in the aftermath of two fatal crashes of the Boeing 737 Max. The fatally flawed design led to the temporary grounding of the aircraft worldwide, and in 2024 another incident, in which a door plug burst open at 16,000 feet, triggered further investigations. This is the first fatal accident involving the 787. Soon after it entered service in 2011, concerns over the fire risk from lithium batteries led to a temporary grounding. More than 1,000 Boeing 787 aircraft are in service with dozens of international airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, both of which have exemplary safety records. Q: Are budget airlines just as safe as the big names? Sophieeeeeee A: 'If you think safety is expensive, try having an accident' – that is the standard response to such questions, and I think it is fair. The second-safest airline worldwide, after Ryanair, is easyJet. Both are focused on keeping costs down. But safety is paramount. Q: Are there parts of the world where you'd personally think twice about flying, because of safety standards? SammyW Nepal figures disproportionately heavily in the accident statistics. But even there, you are safer in the sky than on the roads. In Iran and Russia, international sanctions mean that aircraft are not being maintained to the appropriate levels. And small airlines with old aircraft – such as those in parts of Africa – do not inspire confidence, particularly during stormy weather in tropical The European Union has a useful list of airlines that are banned from EU airspace. They include Air Zimbabwe, numerous Afghan, Iranian and Iraqi aircraft, plus carriers based in Armenia, Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nepal, Sudan, Suriname and Tanzania. These questions and answers were part of an 'Ask Me Anything' hosted by Simon Calder at 1pm BST on Wednesday, 18 June. Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Boy, 15, Survives Lightning Strike in Central Park, Police Say
A 15-year-old boy survived being struck by lightning in Central Park on Thursday afternoon, the police said. The boy was standing under a tree near 100th Street on the park's east side around 3:40 p.m. when lightning struck the tree, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Electrical current transferred from the tree to the boy's metal chain necklace, the official said. An officer at the scene said the boy was found sitting on the ground by a walking path; the officer declined to give his name. The boy, whose name was not released, was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and treated for minor burns, the law enforcement official said. He was expected to recover. The strike occurred as a band of heavy thunderstorms moved through the area, packing stiff winds and hard rain and causing airport delays. About nine of 10 people struck by lightning in the United States survive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, lightning is among the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States. From 2009 to 2018, an average of 27 Americans a year were killed by lightning, according to the National Weather Service. In 2021, a 13-year-old boy was on the sand at Orchard Beach in the Bronx when he was fatally struck by lightning. On Thursday, the area where the strike occurred was roped off with yellow police tape for about an hour afterward as showers continued to pelt the park. By 5:15 p.m., the storm had passed and people were walking their dogs in the sun. Luke Caramanico contributed reporting.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Holocaust survivor Suzanne Ripton, who escaped Nazis, dies at 88
A Holocaust survivor who escaped the Nazis in 1940s France while still a young child and who later moved to the UK to make a new life has died at the age of Rappaport Ripton, was just six years old when her parents were arrested in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of Paris, but she was saved by a neighbour who hid her for several weeks under her kitchen table. After living with foster families in rural France, Ms Ripton was brought to England after the war by the Red Cross and lived in London and more recently in Phillips, from the Leeds Jewish Housing Association, said Ms Ripton, who was last year awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM), would be "sadly missed". Ms Ripton was awarded the BEM for Services to Holocaust Education and Remembrance after being a founder member of the Holocaust Survivors' Friendship Association, which later became the Holocaust Centre North in story is told in a permanent exhibition at the centre, as well as being preserved in its archive, and it forms part of learning sessions for both primary and secondary schools, including on the BBC Learning Zone. According to the Holocaust Centre North, Ms Ripton was at home in Paris in summer 1942 when French police and the SS came to arrest her parents, Millie and thanks to the courage of a neighbour, Madame Collomb, she was saved, first by being hidden under a kitchen table covered with a tablecloth for several weeks, before being moved to stay with families in the French Ripton never saw her parents again, later learning they had been taken to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and she eventually moved to England, living in both London and January this year, a message by Ms Ripton was read on her behalf at a Holocaust Memorial Day event at the Leeds Jewish Housing Association (LJHA) where she was a resident for 13 her message, she said: "The words I want to say are, 'never forget to remember'. "LJHA and its staff have made me feel as if I belong. I have come home. Thank you." 'Deeply creative' Reacting to news of Ms Ripton's death, Simon Phillips, LJHA community engagement officer, said she "always had a smile whenever we visited her home"."She was so kind to both residents and staff," he said."She was true 'eyshet chayil' - 'woman of worth' - and will be sadly missed."Dr Alessandro Bucci, director of Holocaust Centre North, said: "We will continue to honour Suzanne's memory and the legacy of her testimony. "She loved the arts and nature, and we will ensure these remain part of how we speak about her - as a survivor, and as the remarkable, complex, and deeply creative person she was."Dr Bucci said Ms Ripton was "a woman of extraordinary courage and quiet strength. May her memory be a blessing." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Faces of the innocent lives wiped out in an instant: The British victims of Air India plane crash - from widower fulfilling late wife's wishes to newly-engaged couple
There were 242 people on board the Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick Airport when it crashed on June 12, leaving just one survivor. Air India said that there were 169 Indian passengers on board, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, as well as 12 crew members. At least 38 people were also killed on the ground as the doomed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down in a residential area moments after takeoff. British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40 from Leicester, was named one week ago as the sole survivor of the crash, and was discharged from hospital to be a pallbearer at the funeral of his brother, who was also on the flight. Relations of the 51 Britons also on board have since paid tribute to the nurses, teachers, lovers, parents, children and friends whose lives were tragically cut short last week. In memoriam, these are the names and stories of the 52 Britons who lost their lives on June 12. Debris from Flight AI171 after it crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad last Thursday Vishwash's brother Ajaykumar who accompanied him on the flight and was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J, but sadly perished Arjun Patoliya, 37 Arjun Patoliya, from Edgeware in London, had travelled to India to fulfil his late wife's final wishes, scattering her ashes in a river in the village where they both grew up. Bharatiben Patel, known as Bharti, 43, had died just three weeks before the crash. Their two children, aged four and eight, were left orphaned after Mr Patoliya was killed. Mr Patoliya had studied at Liverpool John Moores University and worked as a furniture designer. Akeel Nanabawa, 36 Akeel Nanabawa, from Gloucester, was flying home from a five-day family celebration in Gujarat with his wife, Hannaa Vorajee, and their four-year-old daughter, Sara, when Flight171 crashed. The young couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester. They were 'widely loved and deeply respected', their family said in a statement after the tragedy. Hannaa Vorajee, 30 Ms Vorajee, wife of Akeel Nanabawa, ran a global recruitment agency with her husband, volunteered at a local Islamic school and was a director for a company promoting understanding of Islam. The couple's business partner, Shoyeb Khan Nagori, told MailOnline that 'Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people'. Ms Vorajee was a trained midwife. Sara Nanabawa, 4 Sana Nanabawa was the four-year-old daughter of Akeel Nanabawa and Hannaa Vorajee. She died on the week of her fifth birthday and was described by teachers as a 'ray of sunshine' who 'lit up the classroom'. 'His [Akeel's] quiet generosity, her [Hannaa's] warmth and kindness, and their daughter's [Sara's] bright, joyful spirit made a lasting impact on everyone who knew them,' Imam Abdullah told the BBC. Raxa Modha Raxa Modha, who ran a restaurant in Wellingborough, was travelling to England with her daughter-in-law and two-year-old grandson, Rudra, for a memorial service for her late husband at the time of the crash. Kishan Modha – Rudra's father and Raxa's son – had also been in India but was not on the flight. He was due to fly the next day. Jay Bapodra, a family friend, told the BBC: 'Raxa was very loving. She did a lot for the local community, especially from a charitable perspective - both here and in India. 'She was just one of those characters where she'd walk into a room and light it up.' Rudra Modha, 2 It was the first time young Rudra was travelling to the UK, Mr Bapodra told the BBC. They were hoping for him to meet the family in Britain. Yasha Kamdar Yasha Kamdar, Raxa's daughter-in-law, was also on the flight. The Modha family said in a statement: 'It is with deep sadness that we have lost three members of our family. 'Raxa Modha, Yasha Kamdar and Rudra Modha lost their lives on flight AI 171 on 12 June. Our hearts are broken. We are at a complete loss.' Abdhiben (Abdhi) Patel, 40 Abdhi Patel, from Northampton, was returning to the UK after caring for her elderly mother in India when Flight 171 crashed. She was a manager at Zone Beauty Studio in Northampton. Colleagues described her as a 'kind soul' who 'brought light to every room, strength to every challenge, and kindness to every moment.' She leaves behind her husband, Pankaj Patel, and their young 8 year old son, Meer, who are now facing a future filled with immense grief and uncertainty, a fundraising page reads. Maghaben Patel Maghaben Patel was flying home with her sister at the time of the crash. Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39 Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek and husband Jamie lived in London and ran a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry. Fiongal had appeared on ITV's This Morning earlier this year to speak about their Ramsgate business. Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, 45 The families of the couple said they were 'beyond devastated' by the news. The pair had been in India on holiday. Manish Babu, 46 Manish Babu had spent three months caring for his ailing father in India before the crash. After his father passed away, Manish decided it was time to return home to Leicester, his home of 25 years, his cousin told LeicestershireLive. His family paid tribute to a 'very kind man'. Inayatali Saiyedmiya Saiyed, 48, and Nafisa Saiyed, 46 Inayatali Saiyed was returning to the UK with family after travelling to Ahmedabad to celebrate Eid. He was joined by his wife, Nafisa, daughter, Taskin, and son, Waquee Ali. Inayatali's wife, Nafisa, was also killed on Flight171. Taskin Saiyed, 25 Taskin Saiyed was returning to the UK with her family at the time of the crash. She worked as a doctor. Waquee Ali Saiyed, 22 Waquee Ali Saiyed joined his family on the trip to Ahmedabad to celebrate Eid. The 22-year-old was a final year computer science student at City, University of London. Javed Ali Syed, Mariam Syed, Zayn Ali Syed, 6, and Amani Ali Syed, 4 Javed Ali Syed, a hotel manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel, and his wife, Mariam, were passengers on the fallen Air India Flight 171. Mr Syed was an award winning hotelier having previously received a Team Member of the Year award while working for the Comfort Inn London in Westminster in 2017. Mariam was the wife of Javed Ali Syed. She worked as a brand ambassador for Burberry at Harrods and was on the plane with her husband and two children at the time of the crash. Amani Ali Syed was Javed Ali Syed's young daughter. Zayn Ali Syed was his son. Adnan Master, 30 Adnan Master was visiting relatives with his wife and 11-month-old baby at the time of the crash. He is believed to have travelled back on his own. Ashwin Harrington, 27 Ashwin Harrington, 27, from Sudbury, Suffolk, was described by close friend Connor Mann, 27, as an 'incredible guy' who 'made us all constantly laugh and smile with his infectious laugh'. 'He was loved and adored by all of his family and friends and it's a hole that will never be filled because he was such a huge part of all our lives,' he told the BBC. Mr Harrington was due to compete in a Total Warrior obstacle course with Mr Mann in Leeds. Manjuben Maheshbhai Patel, 79 Manjuben 'Manju' Patel had been staying in the city while doing charity work at a temple, her son told Sky News. Ms Patel was on her way back to the UK to continue her volunteer work at a Hindu Temple in Queensbury, North West London. Volunteers there said she will be a huge loss to the community. She was sitting one row behind Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the crash, he said. Lawrence Daniel Christian, 30 Lawrence Christian had flown to India to bury his father. His mother, Ravina Christian, lost her husband, Daniel, in May to heart-related complications, and their son was the only bread-winner in the family. Lawrence had taken a final photo with his mum outside the airport. Christian's grandmother, Salvina Christian, said: 'We have lost everything, the three of us have been left here. 'Our strength, our pride, everything has gone. We have lost the light of our home.' Kamleshbhai Chaudary, 27, and Dhapuben Chaudary Kamlish, who lived in London, was killed on June 12 while flying home with his wife, Dhapuben. He was described as 'a very hardworking young man' by former colleagues and 'the sole breadwinner for his family in Ahmedabad'. Kamlish had flown to India in December 2024 to get married before returning to London to arrange for his wife's visa. He was said to have been 'overjoyed' when it was accepted and rushed out on June 3 to prepare for their journey back to London together. Kamlish and his wife both sadly died together on June 12. Dhir Baxi Dhir and Heer Baxi, both in their early 20s, were sisters with ambitions to 'roam around the world', their family said. They were returning home to London after a trip to India to surprise their grandmother for her birthday. Dhir was a designer for a degree in fashion design. Heer Baxi Heer worked as a project leader in the investment and renewable energy sector. She had previously worked in Singapore, where the sisters are believed to have spent their childhood. Dr Prateek Joshi Dr Prateek Joshi was a Consultant Radiologist who worked at Royal Derby Hospital and Queen's Hospital Burton. His colleagues paid tribute to a 'dedicated and talented colleague and his family'. Dr Rajeev Singh, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Director for Imaging at UHDB, said: 'Prateek was full of joy, he was a wonderful man, friend, husband and father, and an exceptional Radiologist who was highly respected in his field. 'He approached everything with a smile, radiated positivity and had a great sense of humour. He moved to Derby, from India, in 2021, quickly becoming a beloved colleague, he said. 'He often entertained colleagues with stories about his passions outside of work, including his newly discovered love of fish and chips and enthusiasm for walking in the Peak District.' Dr Komi Vyas Dr Komi Vyas was killed while travelling back with her husband, Dr Prateek Joshi, and their children, Nakul, Pradyut and Miraya. Renjitha Gopakumaran Nair, 40 Renjitha Gopakumaran Nair was a nurse who had only recently resigned from her job in Portsmouth to move back to India with her two children, 12 and 15, and elderly mother. She was planning to start work as a nurse in Kerala and had already set a date for a housewarming party at her new home. 'She was a very humble person with a smile on her face all the time,' former colleague Leena Furtado told the BBC. Adam Taju, 72 Adam Taju, 72, and his wife Hasina, 70, were flying home with their 51-year-old son-in-law Altafhusen Patel at the time of the crash. Hasina Taju, 70 Their granddaughter, Ammaarah Taju, described the couple as the 'foundation of our family'. 'We wish we had the chance to tell you one last time just how much we love you, to thank you for everything you did for us,' Ammaarah said in a tribute with her three sisters. Altaf Patel, 51 Altafhusen Patel lived in London with his wife, Shamim. Hardik Avaiya and Vibhooti Patel Hardik Avaiya and Vibhooti Patel had travelled to India to celebrate their engagement. My Avaiya worked in a warehouse. Vibhooti, who was with her finace at the time of the crash, was a physiotherapist, friends said. The couple lived next to Manish Babu, who also died in the crash, LeicestershireLive reports. Hardik Avaiya, 27, and Vibhooti Patel, 28, from the Belgrave area, of Leicester Faizan Rafik Attari Faizan Rafik Attari, from Leicester, was described in a tribute on Facebook as a 'kind soul, devoted to his faith, and loved by all who knew him'. 'His presence brought warmth and calm, and his dedication to knowledge and deen was truly inspiring.' Faizan was 'loved by all who knew him', a tribute on Facebook read Nurat Jahar, 29 Nurat Jahar, 29, and her husband Sohail Oproyaliya had gone to Gujarat to see family in May and were returning home to the UK at the time of the crash. Nurat's husband had returned home to Leicestershire a week earlier for work. She had called her husband minutes before take-off to say she would be home soon. Nurat was returning home to her husband in Leicestershire Elcina Alpesh Makwana, 42 Elcina Alpesh Makwana was travelling home to London on June 12. She had called her parents before take-off to tell them that she had boarded safely and would call them again once she landed. 'That call never came,' her uncle Joseph Patelia told The Telegraph. 'She vanished just like that, leaving us in shock, in tears, unable to believe what we were hearing.' Mrs Makwana previously ran a telecoms business with her husband. She was in India for dental treatment and to spend time with her parents. Elcina Alpesh Makwana was spending time with her parents in India Panna Nagar Panna Nagar was an Ofsted inspector and former headteacher of the Northfleet Nursery School in Gravesend. The school described Ms Nagar as a 'guiding light' and 'inspiration' for the children and staff whose lives she touched. She was flying home after a visit to India. Panna Nagar, a former headteacher, died in the Air India disaster on June 12 Ketan Shah, 43 Ketan Shah, who lived in Southbourne in Dorset, was travelling home when the Air India flight crashed. The 43-year-old ran a village community store in Shipton Bellinger and had travelled to India to see his sick father. He is survived by his wife, Megha, and his teenage son and daughter. Ketan Shah had lived in Dorset for more than a decade and ran a local shop Ramesh Hirji Hirani Ramesh Hirji Hirani, a husband and father who lived in Kingsbury, was travelling alone to Gatwick at the time of the crash. His uncle described him as a 'charitable' and 'friendly' person. Ramesh Hirji Hirani, who lived in Kingsbury, was travelling alone on Flight171 when it crashed Ashok Patel Ashok Patel, a financial advisor, lived with his wife, Shobhana, in Orpington, Kent. They had two sons and two grandchildren. The couple were both full of life and never gave up when times were tough, their eldest son, Miten, told the BBC. Shobhana Patel Shobhana Patel, a retired microbiologist, was killed with her husband, Ashok on Flight171. Miten, their eldest son, told the BBC: 'We were so fortunate and so proud to have been given them as our parents. 'We will miss them every day and make sure the kids remember the good times with Baa and Dada.' Ashok Patel, a financial adviser, and Shobhana Patel, a retired microbiologist, were living in Orpington, Kent Hemaxi Shantilal, Girish Lagli, Aadiv and Taksvi Girish Hemaxi Shantilal, from Wembley, was on board the London-bound flight with her husband, Girish Lagli, and their young children, Aadiv and Taksvi Girish, when the plane crashed. It is believed the family were sat in row 30 of the flight with Taksvi sitting on an adult's lap, the BBC reports. Ajay Ramesh Ajay, the brother of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the flight, was sitting just a few seats away from his sibling when the plane crashed. Vishwash Kumar was discharged from hospital and able to attend the funeral of his brother as a pallbearer after escaping the flight with relatively minor injuries. The funeral for Ajay Ramesh in Gujarat on Wednesday Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (pictured) attended the funeral of his brother as a pallbearer Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, miraculously survived the plane disaster. Pictured: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) meeting with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh in an Ahmedabad hospital
