✈️ The Crash & the Miracle
Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, took off from Ahmedabad for London on 12 June 2025. Approximately 30 seconds after liftoff, it plunged into a building at BJ Medical College, killing at least 241 people on board and 28 on the ground, and injuring dozens more youtube.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15gmanetwork.com+15.
Among 242 occupants, only one survived: Vishwash (Ramesh) Kumar Ramesh, a 40‑year‑old British‑Indian businessman seated at 11A, an economy seat adjacent to an emergency exit cbsnews.com+13ndtv.com+13youtube.com+13.
🧭 How He Survived
Ramesh described a “loud noise” followed by the plane falling from approximately 600–800 feet, then crashing into the building reuters.com+2thesun.co.uk+2indiatimes.com+2.
He was seated right by an emergency exit. Reports (including police and Reuters) suggest the exit door broke open upon impact and he jumped out through it before the cabin ignited pt.wikipedia.org+8businesstoday.in+8reuters.com+8.
Barely conscious, bloodied and bruised, he was filmed limping away from the wreckage and taken to hospital .
🩺 Injuries, Identity & Personal Impact
Treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Ramesh sustained burns, impact injuries to his chest, eyes, feet, but remains out of danger cbsnews.com+7people.com+7gmanetwork.com+7.
He confirmed he was traveling with his brother Ajay, seated in 11J across the aisle, who is now presumed dead or missing timesofindia.indiatimes.com+12ndtv.com+12people.com+12.
“I don’t believe how I survived,” he told reporters. “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared…” reuters.com+3reuters.com+3gmanetwork.com+3.
🔍 Why Seat 11A?
Seat 11A sits at the front of economy, directly behind business class, with immediate access to an emergency exit—uncommon for most seats. Its position and the crash dynamics likely created a survivable space behind the exit door youtube.com+13ndtv.com+13indiatimes.com+13.
Ramesh’s escape appears to be a combination of seat location, broken exit door, and split-second timing.
🧾 Context & Investigation
This crash marks the first fatal incident involving the Boeing 787 series, according to Boeing’s April 2025 report nypost.com+6theguardian.com+6youtube.com+6nypost.com+4wsj.com+4cbsnews.com+4.
Authorities from India’s AAIB, U.S. NTSB, UK experts, Boeing, and Airbus are part of the probe elpais.com+1theguardian.com+1.
Hypotheses include possible flap/gear misconfiguration, engine failure, or bird strike—but no official findings yet .
🕊️ A Miracle with a Shadow
Ramesh’s survival is seen as miraculous—but it comes at an immense emotional cost: he lost nearly everyone he knew on the flight, including his brother.
Rescue teams continue identifying victims, families are providing DNA samples, and governments of India, UK, Canada, and Portugal are involved theguardian.com+15businesstoday.in+15thesun.co.uk+15.
This story highlights how seat selection, emergency exit access, and structural factors aligned in an extraordinary—and tragic—set of circumstances. Ramesh’s survival will likely become a key focus in the aviation safety inquiry, potentially influencing future guidance on seat layouts and emergency procedures.
❓ FAQs:
Q1. Who was the lone survivor of the Air India Flight 171 crash?
A: The only survivor was Vishwash Kumar, a 40-year-old British-Indian businessman. He was seated in Seat 11A, located next to an emergency exit, which played a critical role in his survival.
Q2. How did the Air India Flight 171 crash happen?
A: The Boeing 787 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. It reportedly experienced mechanical failure and nose-dived into a building at BJ Medical College, killing 269 people.
Q3. Why is Seat 11A significant in this crash?
A: Seat 11A was adjacent to an emergency exit. When the aircraft impacted the ground, the exit door was dislodged, allowing the passenger to escape moments before the cabin caught fire.
Q4. Was the survivor injured in the crash?
A: Yes. Vishwash Kumar sustained burns, chest trauma, and eye injuries, but is in stable condition and recovering in Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
Q5. What is the current status of the crash investigation?
A: The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are exploring multiple causes including engine malfunction, flap issues, or a possible bird strike. International teams from Boeing, the U.S. NTSB, and the UK are
Published on 12th june
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