In the middle of an unspeakable tragedy, a flicker of hope emerged.
Ramesh Vishwaskumar Bucharvada, 38, was one of the passengers aboard Air India flight AI171 that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on its way to London. While 204 lives were confirmed lost, Ramesh who was seated in seat 11A miraculously survived.
According to eyewitness reports and a now-viral video, Ramesh was seen staggering away from the wreckage, bloodied and injured but alive. He reportedly managed to leap from the aircraft during the chaos and was later seen walking, disoriented but conscious, towards rescue teams. He is currently receiving medical treatment.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed the lone survival at a press briefing. “We found one passenger alive he was seated at 11A,” Malik told ANI. “He’s now in hospital and under treatment. The total death toll is not final yet and may increase, especially since the crash site included a residential zone.”
According to Aerolopa, an aviation seating database, seat 11A is a window seat on the right side of the aircraft, located in the first row of the Economy cabin just two rows ahead of the plane’s wings. That slight positioning may have played a role in saving his life.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off at 1:39 p.m. from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Just moments into the ascent, the aircraft climbed only 625 feet before losing control. It plummeted into a hostel attached to the BJ Medical College and Hospital, erupting into a massive fireball.
The crash site turned into a war zone, with flames, wreckage, and stunned emergency crews scrambling through debris and bodies. The toll now stands at 204 confirmed dead, though authorities warn the number could rise.
That anyone could survive such an impact is, in the words of many first responders, nothing short of a miracle. Ramesh’s survival offers a glimmer of humanity in a day otherwise darkened by death. His story will undoubtedly be studied, scrutinized, and retold but for now, he remains the lone echo of survival amid overwhelming silence.
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