Indian officials say at least one survivor of the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad was a passenger in seat 11A.
“Police found one survivor, a passenger sitting in seat 11A. He is being treated at the hospital. There is no specific number of casualties yet,” Professor Malik, police chief of the Indian city of Ahmedabad, told ANI news agency today, referring to the Air India plane carrying 242 people that crashed a few hours earlier.
The Hisdustan Times reported that the surviving passenger was named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, a British national, who was being treated at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. He had come to India to visit his family and boarded an Air India flight with his brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh to return to the UK.
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A man believed to be Vishwash Kumar Ramesh walks at the scene of an Indian Airline crash on June 12. Video: India Today
Video released by Indian media shows a man wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants, believed to be Vishwash, limping near the crash site. His clothes were stained with blood and soot.
“There was a loud noise 30 seconds after the plane took off, and then the plane crashed to the ground. Everything happened very quickly. When I regained consciousness, I saw bodies all around me and was very scared. I stood up and ran. Someone caught me and took me to the ambulance to the hospital,” Vishwash recounted.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a survivor of a plane crash in India on the afternoon of June 12. Photo: Hisdustan Times
Vishwash suffered concussion injuries to his chest, eyes and legs. His brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh was sitting in another row and his whereabouts are unknown. “I can’t see him. Please help me find Ajay,” he said.
According to the seat layout of Air India’s Boeing 787-8, seat 11A is located in the first row of the economy cabin, in front of the wing and right next to the emergency exit on the left side of the plane.
Vidhi Chaudhary, a senior police officer in Ahmedabad city, toldReuters rằng có thể một số hành khách đã sống sót và đang được điều trị ở bệnh viện.
Air India CEO Campbell earlier said the injured passenger had been taken to the nearest hospital. “We are actively coordinating with the authorities to conduct emergency response efforts. An Air India intensive care team is en route to Ahmedabad to assist,” he said.
Seat 11A (circled in red) on an Air India Boeing 787-8. Graphics: AeroLopa
Tata Group, owner of Air India and one of India’s largest conglomerates, pledged to pay nearly $117,000 to the families of each of the dead. “We will also pay the hospital bills of the injured and ensure they receive all necessary care. We will also support the reconstruction of the hostels of BJ Medical College,” the group said.
Air India Flight AI171 crashed on the afternoon of June 12, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in the western state of Gujarat. There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board. The passenger list released by Air India showed that the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese and one Canadian.
Rescue workers at the scene of the Air India plane crash in India on the afternoon of June 12. Photo: CISF
Images on social media showed the plane descending and seemingly trying to gain altitude but failing. The plane crashed into the ground and exploded, creating a huge fireball that sent flames and black smoke billowing across the area.
The plane that crashed was a Boeing 787-8, marking the first fatal accident of the Dreamliner series. The cause of the crash is unknown.
More than 204 bodies have been shifted to hospitals in Ahmedabad. At least 41 injured are being treated at medical facilities in the city.
