Miracle Survivor: PM Modi Meets Sole Survivor of Ahmedabad Air India Crash
In the aftermath of the catastrophic Air India Flight AI-171 crash that claimed 241 lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the lone survivor, Ramesh Vishwas Kumar Butcharvada, at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital on Friday. Modi had earlier inspected the crash site before making his way to meet the injured victims.
During his hospital visit, the Prime Minister spent time with Ramesh, encouraging him to stay strong and assuring full support from the government. A video of the emotional exchange, where Modi tells the survivor to “be brave,” is now circulating widely on social media, drawing attention to the extraordinary story of survival amid tragedy.
A Narrow Escape from Death
Ramesh, 38, a British national of Indian origin, was seated in seat 11A, just behind the emergency exit door of the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. He was traveling back to London with his elder brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh (45), after visiting family in India. Tragically, his brother was among the 241 people who perished in the crash. Recounting the harrowing experience, Ramesh said he heard a loud noise just 30 seconds after takeoff, followed by a sudden plunge. “Everything happened in a matter of seconds,” he reportedly told doctors. His injuries include trauma to the chest, eyes, and legs.
A now-viral video shows Ramesh, visibly injured but conscious, walking towards an ambulance after the crash. Locals can be seen questioning him about the fate of the other passengers, to which he replied in Gujarati, “The plane exploded.”
Seat 11A: A Life-Saving Location?
According to aviation experts, seat 11A on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is situated in the first row of the economy cabin, just behind the business class section and adjacent to the emergency exit on the left side of the aircraft. While no seat is completely immune in a crash, proximity to an emergency exit is often linked to higher survival chances in certain types of accidents. In this case, seat 11A may have played a crucial role in Ramesh’s survival, shielding him from the full impact and possibly giving him quicker access to exit the wreckage.
A Nation Mourns, a Survivor Inspires
This tragic crash — one of the deadliest in India’s aviation history — has left the nation reeling. But amidst overwhelming loss, Ramesh’s survival has become a symbol of hope and resilience. His recovery is being closely followed by the public, and PM Modi’s visit has further spotlighted his incredible story.
