A week after the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the deadly accident that claimed 270 lives, was discharged from Civil Hospital Ahmedabad.
Shortly after his discharge, the mortal remains of his brother Ajay Ramesh, who was travelling with him on the flight to London, were handed over to the family. Ajay was cremated in their native town of Diu, following DNA confirmation.
Vishwas, a 40-year-old British national, was seated on 11A aboard Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed on June 12, minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The flight was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport.
Local officials confirmed that 29 people on the ground and 241 passengers and crew members died in the crash. The tragedy sent shockwaves across both India and the UK.
Survivor’s Account
In a now-viral video captured shortly after the crash, Vishwas was seen walking toward an ambulance, injured but conscious. He later shared his harrowing experience with the media.
“When I saw that the door of the plane was broken, I told myself that I can try and get out. Eventually, I came out of the plane,” he recalled.
He also explained how the portion of the aircraft where he was seated landed on the ground floor of BJ Medical College’s hostel, which likely contributed to his survival.
Tragic Farewell
Ajay’s body was cremated in Diu on Wednesday morning after it was identified through DNA testing. The emotional scene saw Vishwas carrying his brother’s mortal remains to the cremation ground.
Both brothers, originally from Diu, had travelled to India to visit family. Their return flight to the UK ended in disaster, marking one of the deadliest aviation accidents involving an Indian carrier in recent years.
The last known transmission from the aircraft included a “mayday” distress signal from the pilot, moments before the plane went down.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, examining potential technical failures, pilot distress signals, and air traffic control data. The incident has reignited concerns over aviation safety protocols and emergency response systems in India.