‘It all happened so quickly’ - British passenger miraculously survives Air India flight crash

12 June 2025, 13:19 | Updated: 12 June 2025, 15:38

A British man has miraculously survived the Air India flight crash, after the London-bound airplane carrying 242 passengers went down shortly after landing.

Indian police has previously said there were 'no survivors', meaning all 242 passengers - including 53 Brits - were presumed dead.

The passenger jet, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after take-off at 13:38 local time close to India's Ahmedabad Airport.

Indian media have reported that 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, has survived the deadly crash.

He is quoted as saying: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly."

Unverified videos show the man, who was said to be in seat 11a, walking around and talking to locals.

He is said to have “impact injuries” on his chest, eyes and feet.

Column of smoke billows into the sky over Ahmedabad after plane crashes

Flight AI171 had a capacity of 256 passengers, with 230 said to be onboard at the time of the crash, alongside 12 crew members.

53 Britons were aboard the flight at the time of the crash, Air India has confirmed.

It's believed the aircraft crashed into a building housing doctors, as well as a student canteen.

In a statement on Thursday morning, Gatwick Airport confirmed: "We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25."

Harrowing footage posted to social media shows dark plumes of smoke rising into the air in a built-up area close to the airport.

Footage shows moment plane crashes in Ahmedabad

Further videos appearing to show the aircraft flying low over the city rooftops before disappearing has also emerged, with a fireball emerging in the distance after the jet goes out of sight.

Follow live: Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner heading for Gatwick crashes shortly after take-off

According to flight tracking app Flightradar24, signal from the aircraft was lost at 10:08 local time.

The foreign office said the UK is "working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved".

British nationals who require consular assistance have been advised to call 020 7008 5000.

The flight's scheduled departure time was 09:50 local time, with a scheduled arrival time at London Gatwick of 18:25 GMT.

This Air India crash is the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft has crashed in this way.

It comes as India's Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu says he is "shocked and devastated" following news of the crash.

Among names listed in the passenger manifest is that of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, listed as passenger number 12.

Shocking images show chunks of the plane's fuselage and tail protruding from buildings close to the crash site, as plumes of smoke emerge from a demolished building.

Horrifying footage from the scene also shows the injured on gurneys as paramedics wheel the injured away.

Dozens of members of the emergency services are currently on the scene, with mass injuries expected as a result of the densely populated crash site.

Officials are yet to comment on the total number of casualties and whether there are any survivors.

Smoke fills the sky after plane crash in Ahmedabad

Police have said the plane crashed into a "civilian area", adding the incident happened "outside the airport perimeter".

It's believed the plane came down on a building used to house doctors working in the region.

Air India confirmed that of the passengers aboard, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.

It comes as Buckingham Palace said the King is being kept updated on the developing situation after the Gatwick-bound plane crashed.

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, India's aviation minister, added: "We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.

"Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.

"My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families."

The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.

The Airline has set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information.

The relatively new model of aircraft launched 14 years ago, with Boeing celebrating the fact the Dreamliner had hit a milestone - carrying 1bn passengers - just six weeks ago.

Following news of the crash, the plane maker's stocks tumbled during US pre-market trading, with shares falling more than 9%.