Authorities in India have confirmed that one individual has astonishingly survived the devastating Air India plane crash that took place earlier on Thursday.
Air India’s AI 171 flight was en route to London Gatwick, with an anticipated arrival in the UK at 6:25 pm local time this evening.
However, the aircraft crashed into a residential neighborhood known as Meghani Nagar shortly after departing from Ahmedabad Airport in India.
Officials have also verified that the plane impacted a hostel associated with a medical college.
As per Air India, there were 242 individuals, including passengers and crew members, aboard the flight. The airline stated: “Among these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals.”
While the police commissioner initially suggested that there were no survivors, authorities have since confirmed that one person did survive the incident.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik informed ANI: “The police discovered one survivor in seat 11A. One survivor has been located in the hospital and is receiving treatment. We cannot provide any information regarding the number of fatalities at this time. The death toll may rise as the flight crashed in a residential area.”
The survivor has been identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian man, who has shared his experience with the local media regarding the tragic event.
In an interview with the Hindustan Times newspaper, Ramesh recounted hearing a ‘loud noise’ shortly after the aircraft took off.
“It all transpired so rapidly,” he remarked. “When I regained consciousness, there were bodies surrounding me. I was terrified. I stood up and fled. Fragments of the plane were scattered around me. Someone seized me and placed me in an ambulance, which transported me to the hospital.
Ramesh was seated in 11A on the aircraft, while his brother – who was also on board – occupied a completely different row, as Ramesh informed the Hindustan Times.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Air India, has issued a statement in recent hours, extending his condolences to those affected.
He stated: “With deep sorrow, I confirm that Air India flight AI171, which was operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those impacted by this heartbreaking event.
“At this time, our main priority is to support all those affected and their families. We are doing everything within our capabilities to assist the emergency response teams at the scene and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.
“Further updates will be provided as we obtain more verified information. An emergency center has been established, and a support team has been organized for families.
