In the wake of India’s worst aviation disaster in a decade, a story of astonishing survival has emerged, captivating the world and being hailed in British media as “the miracle of seat 11A.” Ramesh Viswashkumar, a 40-year-old British national of Indian heritage, was seated near the emergency exit – seat 11A – on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that shockingly exploded in a ball of flames after colliding with a medical college hostel shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Viswashkumar’s harrowing escape was captured in a widely circulated video, showing him hobbling through the street, his blood-stained T-shirt and bruised face a stark testament to the inferno he had just endured. His story has since dominated news stations across India, bringing a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy.
“I don’t believe how I survived. For some time I thought I was also going to die,” Viswashkumar bravely recounted from his hospital bed to Indian state broadcaster DD News on Friday. “But when I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive and I tried to unbuckle myself from the seat and escape from where I could. It was in front of my eyes that the air hostess and others died.”
A Split-Second Escape from the Inferno
Viswashkumar vividly recalled the terrifying moments leading up to the crash. He described how, shortly after takeoff, the plane seemed to come to a standstill in mid-air for a few seconds, with the cabin lights flashing green and white. He could feel the engine thrust increasing, but then, with terrifying speed, the aircraft “crashed with speed into the hostel.”
His proximity to an escape route proved to be his lifeline. “The side of the plane I was in landed on the ground, and I could see that there was space outside the aircraft,” he explained. “So when my door broke I tried to escape through it and I did.” He noted the stark contrast with the other side of the aircraft, which was “blocked by the building wall so nobody could have come out of there.”
This quick thinking and sheer luck allowed him to squeeze through the damaged hatch to safety.
Viswashkumar suffered burns and bruises and is currently under observation, deeply shaken by the trauma. “His escape and without any grievous injury, was nothing short of a miracle,” an official confirmed.
The Unfolding Tragedy and the Search for Answers
While Viswashkumar’s survival offers a rare moment of relief, the devastating reality of the crash continues to unfold. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s impact claimed not only the lives of those onboard but also some individuals at the medical college hostel and others on the ground. Tragically, his brother Ajay, who was seated in a different row on the same flight, is among those still unaccounted for, leaving the family in central England heartbroken. “We can’t describe in the words, we are totally heartbroken,” shared Viswashkumar’s cousin, Hiren Kantilal, from their family home in Leicester. Relatives are urgently trying to arrange travel to India to be by his side and seek answers.
Rescue workers are tirelessly searching the charred buildings of the hostel for missing people and crucial aircraft parts, vital for piecing together the cause of the disaster. Air India has stated that the investigation will take time, and plane maker Boeing has pledged its full support, with a team of experts ready to assist in the probe.
On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site in his home state of Gujarat and later met with the miraculous survivor, Ramesh Viswashkumar, in the hospital, offering comfort and support.
This horrific incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the immense complexities of aviation. As investigations continue, the story of Ramesh Viswashkumar stands as a testament to the human will to survive against impossible odds, a glimmer of light in an otherwise dark and tragic event.
