British survivor emerges from deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed hundreds

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 one passenger, 40-year-old Ramesh Viswashkumar, surviving.

Mr Viswashkumar managed to escape by jumping out of an emergency exit. Police confirmed he had been seated in 11A, adjacent to the exit, which may have enabled his survival.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Viswashkumar described the horrifying scene. “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,” he told Indian media.

Senior police officer Vidhi Chaudhary said, “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 recalled.

The aircraft crashed into a hostel at BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar residential area of Ahmedabad, near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The accident occurred at around 1:39pm local time, shortly after the flight issued a mayday call.

The total death toll continues to rise as the crash also caused destruction on the ground. Officials reported that about 50 students from the hostel were injured, with at least five still missing as search teams comb through 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 briefly confirmed he was alive but gave few details. “He only said that he was fine, nothing else,” Valgi said. The family is still searching for his 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 lives in the UK with his wife and son, sustained injuries to his face, chest, and other parts of his body. According to his brother 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. It entered commercial service in 2011 and had not previously been linked to a fatal accident. The crash therefore marks the first total loss of 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 ongoing operational challenges despite restructuring efforts.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, expressed grief over the disaster. “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words,” he said.

King Charles said he was “desperately shocked” by the crash. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that British authorities are working closely with Indian counterparts and urged affected families to contact the Foreign Office.

The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has deployed officials to assist with the investigation. The US National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are also expected to provide technical support.

Authorities said the cause of the crash remains unknown. Recovery operations are still ongoing, with officials continuing to examine whether further survivors could be found among passengers or residents affected on the ground.

Video from the crash site showed extensive wreckage embedded in residential buildings, with plumes of smoke rising as firefighters and rescue teams attempted to control fires and clear debris.