Following the tragic Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad that resulted in 241 fatalities, the only survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, shared his harrowing experience with the media. This marks the sole first-hand account from inside the ill-fated flight.
The 40-year-old British national of Indian origin recounted his miraculous escape from the doomed aircraft. Seated in row 11A near an emergency exit in the economy section, Kumar's section of the plane remained grounded, sparing him from the crash onto a building's roof.
Speaking from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where he is receiving treatment, Kumar expressed his disbelief at surviving the ordeal. He vividly described the moment of impact near Meghani Nagar area and how he thought he was going to die before realizing he was alive.
The flight, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed 33 seconds after takeoff, hitting buildings near the airport. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.
Kumar recalled the terrifying experience of the flight getting stuck in the air shortly after takeoff, followed by the crash into an establishment. Despite the chaos, he managed to exit through the emergency door, unlike others on the opposite side of the aircraft.
Despite suffering burns on his left hand from the ensuing blaze, Kumar miraculously survived and witnessed the tragedy unfold before his eyes. He expressed his astonishment at walking out of the rubble alive.
During his visit to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inquired about Kumar's well-being and the sequence of events. The Prime Minister also inspected the crash site, met with survivors, and chaired a review meeting to oversee rescue efforts and the investigation.
Expressing his grief over the incident, PM Modi described the devastation as saddening and offered condolences to the families of the victims. He acknowledged the profound loss and extended his sympathies to those affected by the tragedy.
Source: Hindustan Times