British passenger in seat 11A survives India airplane crash

A British man has walked away from the wreckage of the Air India crash that killed 241 folks in a rare story of survival.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh was in seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787-8 flight when it crashed shortly after take off in Ahmedabad, western India.

Mr Ramesh’s brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, advised BBC Information Vishwashkumar “has no concept how he survived” and escaped the airplane as the one survivor.

Air India mentioned all different passengers and crew have been killed – together with 169 Indian nationals and 52 different Britons.

Nayan advised the BBC “it feels nice seeing him [Vishwashkumar] doing effectively” however he was anxious about his different brother Ajay, who was additionally onboard.

“We have been all in shock as quickly as we heard what occurred, simply utter shock. Speechless,” he mentioned.

“He [Vishwashkumar] himself has no concept how he survived, how he acquired out the airplane.

“When he known as us he was simply extra anxious about my different brother, like ‘Discover Ajay, discover Ajay.’ That is all he cares about for the time being.”

A relative known as Jay advised the PA information company: “He is acquired some accidents on his face. He was painted in blood. He is doing effectively I believe. It is a large shock.”

Video shared on social media confirmed Mr Ramesh strolling in direction of an ambulance, with smoke billowing within the background.

He was later seen in a hospital mattress assembly Indian inside minister Amit Shah.

Indian media mentioned Mr Ramesh shared his boarding go, which confirmed his identify and seat quantity.

He has a spouse and little one. The BBC understands he was born in India, however has lived within the UK for a few years.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed to Indian information company ANI that one man survived the crash.

He mentioned: “The police discovered one survivor in seat 11A.

“One survivor has been discovered within the hospital and is underneath remedy.”

Three Britons thought to have died on the flight have been named by Gloucester Muslim Society as Akeel Nanabawa, his spouse Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sara.

Couple Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who run a non secular wellness centre in London, are additionally thought to have been on the flight.

They laughed and joked in an Instagram video as they advised of their “10-hour flight again to England”.

Their agency the Wellness Foundry has been approached for remark.

The granddaughter of a pair, from Blackburn, who have been onboard the flight mentioned she is in shock and disbelief.

Adam Taju, 72, and his spouse Hasina, 70, have been flying again from Ahmedabad’s Worldwide Airport with their 51-year-old son-in-law, Altafhusen Patel who lives in London together with his spouse.

Ammaarah Taju says they’re “clinging onto hope” that they’re nonetheless alive.

The airplane crashed into lodging utilized by docs lower than a minute after take-off. The reason for the crash remains to be unknown.

In an announcement from the King, he mentioned he and his spouse have been “desperately shocked by the horrible occasions in Ahmedabad this morning”.

“Our particular prayers and deepest doable sympathy are with the households and associates of all these affected by this appallingly tragic incident throughout so many countries, as they await information of their family members,” the assertion added.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned he couldn’t verify stories a British nationwide had survived the crash and the federal government was nonetheless establishing info.

He mentioned his ideas have been with the households who have been going to be “completely devastated by this terrible information”, whereas his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi mentioned it was “heart-breaking past phrases”.

UK Overseas Secretary David Lammy has organized disaster groups in India and the UK.

London Gatwick Airport confirmed {that a} reception centre for family of passengers was being arrange the place data could be supplied, and that it was liaising carefully with Air India.

It mentioned on X: “British nationals who require consular help or have issues about associates or household ought to name 0207 008 5000.”

Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Worldwide Airport at 13:39 native time (08:09 GMT), Air India mentioned.

It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

One video verified by the BBC exhibits the airplane descending earlier than a big explosion because it hits the bottom.