Ahmedabad: As desperate relatives gathered at the Civil Hospital in Asarwa, one survivor from Thursday’s Air India flight AI-171 crash, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, lay recovering in the general ward, recounting the terrifying moments after the plane went down.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” said Vishwash, a 40-year-old British national, who suffered injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet.
The Gatwick-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, including 12 crew members, took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm. It crashed within minutes in Meghaninagar, bursting into flames shortly after take-off from Runway 23.
“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. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital,” Vishwash told Hindustan Times, still clutching his boarding pass.
A resident of London for the past 20 years, Vishwash had been visiting India to see family and was returning to the UK with his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh (45). Vishwash said Ajay was seated in a different row and is currently missing.
“We visited Diu. He was travelling with me and I can’t find him anymore. Please help me find him,” he pleaded.
Meanwhile, chaos continued at the hospital, as families of passengers searched desperately for updates on their loved ones. Among them were associates of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was also reportedly on the ill-fated flight.
“We are looking for him. If you find out something, let me know,” said Sailesh Mandliya, a close aide of Rupani, who was seen at the hospital.
The crash has prompted a massive response from authorities, including rescue and recovery operations, and a probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the country, as more survivors and families recount their stories.