In a harrowing account of the deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade, the sole survivor of Air India Flight 171 has revealed the terrifying moments that led to the crash that killed 241 people. His story provides crucial insight into the final seconds of the doomed flight.
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Survivor Identified as British National
Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British national, has been identified as the sole surviving passenger of Air India Flight 171. Video footage from the crash site showed Vishwas Kumar Ramesh limping towards an ambulance, assisted by healthcare workers, after miraculously surviving the catastrophic impact.
“30 Seconds That Changed Everything”
He described the crash, saying the plane went down just 30 seconds after takeoff. “After 30 seconds of takeoff, a loud noise followed, and the plane crashed. It was a sudden event. When I woke up, I found bodies all around me”, Ramesh recounted in his shocking testimony.
The Tragic Flight Details
Air India Flight 171, bound for London with 242 people onboard, crashed as it took off from Ahmedabad airport. The flight took off from runway 23 of Ahmedabad Airport at 13:38 local time en route to London Gatwick, but disaster struck during the critical initial climb phase.
Technical Details from Aviation Experts
The ADS-B transponder of the aircraft reported an altitude of 625 feet before reception was lost at around 230 feet before the threshold of runway 05. The flight crew issued a mayday call to air traffic control in Ahmedabad. Aviation expert Jeff Guzzetti noted, “It just appears to me that the airplane is unable to climb”.
Critical Technical Failure
According to aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas, the aircraft’s landing gear was never retracted, suggesting a serious technical malfunction occurred immediately after takeoff that prevented normal flight operations.
Survivor’s Miraculous Escape
The fact that Ramesh survived such a devastating crash is being called miraculous by investigators. His firsthand account provides crucial evidence for understanding what went wrong in those fatal 30 seconds after takeoff.
Investigation Underway
Aviation authorities from India, the UK, and the US are working together to determine the exact cause of this unprecedented Boeing 787 Dreamliner accident. The survivor’s testimony will be crucial in piecing together the sequence of events that led to this tragedy.
Key Takeaways
- Sole survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh describes crash happening 30 seconds after takeoff
- Loud noise preceded the crash, suggesting mechanical failure
- Aircraft’s landing gear was never retracted, indicating technical problems
- Flight crew issued mayday call before impact
- 241 people lost their lives in this historic aviation disaster
This is a developing story. Our thoughts are with the families of those lost and the recovering survivor.
Follow our coverage for the latest updates on the Air India Flight 171 crash investigation.
