British National Survives Boeing 787-8 Crash, Investigation Launched

A senior Indian police official reported to the national news agency ANI that a single individual survived the Air India flight to London that crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad. This survivor was a man seated in 11A. Air India subsequently confirmed the existence of a sole survivor, identified as a British national of Indian origin.

Indian media sources spoke with a man in a local hospital who identified himself as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a U.K. citizen. He was listed in seat 11A on flight AI171, according to the flight manifest. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the ongoing investigation to establish the facts surrounding the survivor.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik initially stated there were no known survivors. However, he later confirmed to ANI that the police had found one survivor in seat 11A, who was receiving treatment in the hospital. Dhananjay Dwivedi, principal secretary of the Gujarat state health department, also confirmed the survivor, without providing further details.

Dr. Dhaval Gameti at Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital examined Ramesh and reported that while he was disoriented with multiple injuries, he appeared to be out of danger. The hospital received 186 bodies from the plane.

Indian media reported that Ramesh had a ticket for the flight with his name and the 11A seat assignment. According to the Hindustan Times, Ramesh stated that the crash occurred quickly after a loud noise thirty seconds after takeoff, and he suffered impact injuries.

Video footage showed the plane flying low over buildings before disappearing and a subsequent explosion. Ramesh's cousin, Ajay Valgi, spoke to the BBC News and confirmed he had spoken to Ramesh. Valgi said Ramesh was fine and that he had been sitting next to his brother on the flight, whose whereabouts are unknown.