In the aftermath of the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members, as well as at least 24 individuals on the ground, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, en route to London Gatwick.
Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, recounted the harrowing experience to the Prime Minister. Seated in 11A near an emergency exit, he described a sudden jolt and flickering lights before the aircraft descended rapidly. After the impact, he awoke amidst wreckage and bodies, managing to escape through the emergency exit. Tragically, his brother, Ajaykumar Ramesh, seated nearby in 11J, did not survive.
Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Gujarat State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and commended the efforts of rescue teams. He assured that a thorough investigation is underway, with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau leading the probe, assisted by international aviation authorities.