A passenger plane from Air India, the state-owned airline, crashed near Ahmedabad Airport in western India, causing significant casualties, with the confirmed sole survivor attracting global attention.
According to Bloomberg News on the 12th (local time), Air India Flight AI171 crashed around 1:39 p.m., just five minutes after takeoff, in Ahmedabad, a city with a population of 5 million, resulting in the deaths of over 240 passengers and crew members. Local police reported recovering 269 bodies near the crash site and have begun DNA testing. The only survivor from the aircraft is a 40-year-old British male passenger who was seated in economy class.
The survivor, Vishwesh Kumar Ramesh, reportedly escaped just before the aircraft was completely engulfed in flames. A video shared on social media shows him walking near the crash site covered in blood. According to local media, Hindustan Times, Ramesh noted, “There was a loud noise 30 seconds after takeoff,” adding, “When I came to, there were corpses scattered around.” His brother, who was traveling with him, is reported to have died in the crash.
The reason Ramesh survived this major disaster is believed to be the seat he occupied. Ramesh was seated in the left window seat of the 11th row in economy class (11A), which is closest to the emergency exit. According to Bloomberg, this seat is relatively less preferred, as despite being a window seat, it is somewhat distanced from the window, making it hard to see outside due to the characteristics of small aircraft.
However, the likelihood of survival in an airplane accident depends on various factors, including seat location, the cause of the accident, and aircraft design, suggesting that further factors may still be uncovered. Previously, during the Jeju Air incident in December, two cabin crew members dramatically survived as they were seated at the rear of the aircraft, and the tail section detached during the collision.
According to Hindustan Times, Ramesh suffered minor injuries in the accident but is in a stable condition. However, medical professionals noted that he is experiencing emotional distress and a sense of loss due to the death of his brother, who was on the flight.
This tragedy is expected to be recorded as one of the largest aviation disasters this year. Earlier in January, 67 people died when a military helicopter collided with a passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C. In December, a Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, resulting in 179 deaths.
Indian authorities are currently recovering the black box and voice recorder and have initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident. Rescue teams are working on recovering ground victims and clearing debris.
There are concerns that Boeing, the manufacturer of the passenger aircraft, could face a crisis of trust. Following the crashes of the 737 Max model in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019, Boeing has spent over six years trying to restore its brand image. Shares of Boeing fell sharply shortly after the market opened that day.
Boeing stated in a press release, “We are working to gather more information.”