Air India Crash: At least one survivor found as investigations continue into deadly Ahmedabad plane crash tragedy

A catastrophic crash involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad has left the nation in mourning, with all 242 people on board initially believed dead — until authorities confirmed at least one miraculous survivor.

As a direct result of the crash, an Air India flight from London Gatwick to Goa, scheduled to depart Thursday night, was cancelled.

Ahmedabad police identified 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, as a survivor after locating him in a local hospital. Ramesh, who had been seated in 11A on the London-bound flight, recounted the horror in a brief interview from his hospital bed with Hindustan Times.

“It all happened so quickly,” he said. “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane everywhere. Someone grabbed me, put me in an ambulance, and brought me to the hospital.”

Police confirmed his identity after Hindustan Times published a photograph of his boarding pass bearing his name. Ramesh had been visiting family in India and was on his way back to the UK.

Senior officer Vidhi Chaudhary also confirmed to Reuters that Ramesh had been found alive and was receiving treatment. Authorities continue to search nearby hospitals for any additional survivors.

The crash is the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model widely praised for its safety record since its commercial debut in 2011. The specific aircraft involved, a 787-8—the smallest of the Dreamliner variants—was delivered to Air India in 2014 and powered by twin GE Aerospace engines.

Before Thursday’s tragedy, the Dreamliner had avoided any fatal crashes, though it had been involved in several non-lethal incidents.

In 2013, an Ethiopian Airlines 787 caught fire while grounded at Heathrow due to a short circuit, and the fleet was temporarily grounded that same year after battery issues affected planes in Tokyo and Boston. More recently, a LATAM Airlines 787 experienced a severe midair drop in 2024, injuring dozens.

GE Aerospace, in a statement on X, expressed deep sorrow, saying it is “prepared to support our customer and the investigation.” Boeing also released a message, saying it is in contact with Air India and “stands ready to support them.”

In a video message, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson called it “a difficult day for all of us at Air India.” He said that the airline’s focus is now on the passengers, crew, and their families. “Investigations will take time, but anything we can do now, we are doing,” he said, adding that accurate information — not speculation — will guide all updates moving forward.

Adding to the tragedy, at least five medical students were killed and nearly 50 others injured when debris from the aircraft fell on the dining area of BJ Medical College. According to Divyansh Singh, vice-president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, some of the injured are in critical condition, and emergency responders are still searching the debris for more victims.

As a direct result of the crash, an Air India flight from London Gatwick to Goa, scheduled to depart Thursday night, was cancelled.

King Charles III, in a statement from Buckingham Palace, expressed being “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad.” He offered prayers and sympathy to the families and praised the “heroic efforts of the emergency services.”

Neighboring Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar, who also serves as deputy prime minister, extended condolences, saying he was “saddened” by the tragedy and that Pakistan’s sympathies were with the victims’ families.

Tata Sons, the parent company of Air India, also expressed grief. In a statement posted on X, chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said, “We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171. No words can adequately express the grief we feel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones and with those who have been injured.”

Tata Group pledged ₹1 crore (approximately £86,000) in compensation to the family of each deceased victim, full medical expense coverage for the injured, and support for rebuilding BJ Medical College’s hostel.

In the UK, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed that it has formally offered assistance to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Given that British citizens were on board, the AAIB will participate with expert status in accordance with ICAO Annex 13. A multidisciplinary team is being deployed to India to aid in the investigation.

British nationals seeking consular support or information about loved ones can contact the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office at 020 7008 5000.

As investigations begin into the exact cause of the crash, the tragic incident has already sent ripples across multiple nations, highlighting both the fragility of life and the importance of global aviation safety cooperation.