A devastating tragedy struck Ahmedabad on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, heading to London, crashed with 242 people on board. While initial reports feared no survivors, one passenger, Ramesh Vishwaskumar Bucharvada, miraculously made it out alive.
Ramesh, 38, who was seated in 11A on flight AI-171, was initially believed to have jumped from the aircraft during the crash. However, in a statement shared by News18, he clarified that he did not jump but was rescued from the wreckage after the crash. “Bodies were flying all around me, and pieces of the plane everywhere,” he said. “Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in the ambulance.”
Footage from the scene showed him, bloodied but conscious, walking near the wreckage. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik confirmed to ANI that Ramesh is the only known survivor of the disaster.
The Dreamliner had climbed to roughly 825 feet before it suddenly began descending. Just moments before impact, the pilots issued a mayday alert. Seconds later, the aircraft exploded into a massive fireball, with thick plumes of smoke visible from afar.
So far, 204 bodies have been recovered from the scene. At least 50 medical students were injured in a nearby hostel when the plane crashed into the surrounding area. Authorities warn there are no other survivors. Airport operations were suspended, and India’s aviation ministry dispatched emergency teams to manage the rescue and begin a formal investigation.
Boeing confirmed it is working closely with Air India and gathering information about the incident. This marks the first major crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model celebrated for its fuel efficiency and long-range capability.
Air India activated its emergency response center and deployed support teams to assist the families of the victims. The airline’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, expressed his deepest condolences and said the company is doing everything possible to support those affected.
This incident stands as one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s history. As investigations continue, the country mourns the lives lost and seeks answers behind the tragic crash.