Tragedy struck India when an Air India flight, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Chennai International Airport. Minutes into its journey to Gatwick Airport in England, the flight lost altitude and slammed into a nearby medical hostel, catching both passengers and residents off guard.
The crash caused widespread devastation, scattering parts of the aircraft across the hostel grounds. Emergency services rushed to the scene amid thick smoke and debris, confronting a grim aftermath marked by injuries, fatalities, and many unanswered questions. The flight carried 242 people, with only one survivor, a British national.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh boarded the flight back to the UK with his older brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh, after visiting family. He took Seat 11A, next to the emergency exit—a spot many passengers consider the worst on the airline. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Vishwash said he heard a loud noise shortly after takeoff, just before the crash. “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me,” he recalled. Vishwash sat in a different row, away from Ajay.
As paramedics rushed Ramesh into an ambulance, he pleaded with them to search for his brother, hoping Ajay had survived. Doctors later confirmed that Vishwash had escaped with only minor injuries and would return home within a few days. But relief gave way to grief when he learned Ajay hadn’t survived. The loss shattered Vishwash and left his family in mourning.
At least eight people from the medical hostel, believed to be students or relatives of the residents, remain missing, while authorities have confirmed one death. Rescue crews continue working through the debris, as families anxiously await news, holding on to hope despite the mounting fear.
A senior doctor at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital expressed grave concern, stating he has little doubt the death toll will rise as investigations deepen. As recovery efforts continue, the community braces for difficult days ahead, united in sorrow and uncertainty.
Sources: CNN, Hindustan Times
Zaima Humaira contributed to this article
