A 40‑year‑old British national, identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, is currently hospitalized in Ahmedabad after claiming to have survived the horrific crash of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick that went down shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025. The jet, carrying 242 people, crashed into a building near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, tragically resulting in over 200 fatalities and numerous injuries.

According to eyewitness and hospital reports, Ramesh was seated in 11A when, “thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” he recounted. He suffered impact injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet and managed to walk away from the wreckage into an ambulance. Disturbing footage circulating online shows him struggling but conscious, gripping his boarding pass as he relays the tragedy.

Flight 171 issued a Mayday call before disappearing from radar at about 625 ft altitude. Rescue operations have largely concluded, with at least 204 bodies recovered and dozens hospitalized, including hostel-resident medical students. Ahmedabad Airport temporarily suspended operations while emergency teams responded.

The crash marks the first hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction. Investigations by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), DGCA, and Air India are already underway. Ramesh’s lone survival—amidst the devastation—highlights both tragedy and an extraordinary tale of survival.