New Video Surfaces of Sole Survivor in Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash: “My Survival is Nothing Short of a Miracle”

Ahmedabad, 16th June 2025: A new video has emerged of Vishwas Ramesh Kumar Bhalia — the only survivor of the tragic Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad — showing him walking away from the burning wreckage moments after the crash. Behind him, thick black smoke billows into the sky as the aircraft remains engulfed in flames.

The footage, recorded near the BJ Medical College Hostel campus, captures a stunned Ramesh checking his phone while walking away from the accident site, visibly injured. Eyewitnesses can be heard shouting in shock upon seeing him alive. This is the second video showing him immediately after the crash — the earlier clip, released on June 12, showed Ramesh limping with wounds on his face.

Survivor’s Account: “Dead bodies were all around me”
Ramesh, who was seated on 11A of the ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner, recounted his harrowing experience after being rescued and hospitalized. “Thirty seconds after takeoff, the plane crashed with a tremendous sound. When I regained consciousness, there were bodies and broken parts of the aircraft all around. Someone picked me up and put me in an ambulance,” he told reporters.

The crash claimed the lives of 240 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. An additional 30 individuals — including 5 doctors who were near the crash site — also died when the aircraft slammed into the BJ Medical Hostel premises. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese, and one Canadian.

Ramesh’s brother, who was also on board, remains missing.

PM Modi Meets Survivor in Hospital
On June 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ramesh at the hospital, spending nearly 10 minutes speaking with him. Ramesh later told DD News, “The PM asked how the accident happened and enquired about my health. I still can’t believe I survived.”

“I Might Have Fallen with My Seat”
Recalling the moment of impact, Ramesh said, “As soon as the plane took off, it felt like it stalled. Then the green and white lights came on, and suddenly there was a loud explosion. I think the part of the plane where my seat was hit the lower portion of the building. The upper part caught fire, trapping many passengers. I might have fallen down with my seat. I saw a broken door and an opening, so I just ran.”

He added, “Two air hostesses and a couple were burning right in front of my eyes. I somehow escaped. I walked out of the hostel compound and kept going until help arrived.”

Investigation Underway
A high-level inquiry has been ordered into the crash of Air India flight AI-171, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London. Aviation experts, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and international teams are involved in the probe to determine what led to the catastrophic failure within seconds of takeoff.