British passenger in seat 11A survives India airplane crash

A British man has walked away from the wreckage of the Air India crash that killed at the least 200 individuals in a rare story of survival.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh was in seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787-8 flight when it crashed shortly after take off in Ahmedabad, western India.

Mr Ramesh’s brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, informed BBC Information Vishwashkumar “has no thought how he survived” and escaped the airplane as the one survivor.

There have been 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the Gatwick Airport-bound flight, Air India stated.

Nayan informed the BBC “it feels nice seeing him [Vishwashkumar] doing nicely” however he was anxious about his different brother Ajay, who was additionally onboard.

“We have been all in shock as quickly as we heard what occurred, simply utter shock. Speechless,” he stated.

“He [Vishwashkumar] himself has no thought how he survived, how he bought out the airplane.

“When he known as us he was simply extra anxious about my different brother, like ‘Discover Ajay, discover Ajay.’ That is all he cares about in the mean time.”

A relative known as Jay informed the PA information company: “He is bought some accidents on his face. He was painted in blood. He is doing nicely I believe. It is a massive shock.”

Video shared on social media confirmed Mr Ramesh strolling in the direction of an ambulance, with smoke billowing within the background.

He was later seen in a hospital mattress assembly Indian inside minister Amit Shah.

Indian media stated Mr Ramesh shared his boarding go, which confirmed his identify and seat quantity.

He has a spouse and youngster. The BBC understands he was born in India, however has lived within the UK for a few years.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed to Indian information company ANI that one man survived the crash.

He stated the survivor “has been within the hospital and is beneath remedy”.

The commissioner informed the BBC that 204 our bodies had been recovered, whereas 41 individuals have been being handled for accidents.

Three Britons thought to have died on the flight have been named by Gloucester Muslim Society as Akeel Nanabawa, his spouse Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sara.

The granddaughter of a pair, from Blackburn, who have been onboard the flight stated she is in shock and disbelief.

Adam Taju, 72, and his spouse Hasina, 70, have been flying again from Ahmedabad’s Worldwide Airport with their 51-year-old son-in-law, Altafhusen Patel who lives in London along with his spouse.

Ammaarah Taju says they’re “clinging onto hope” that they’re nonetheless alive.

The airplane crashed into lodging utilized by docs lower than a minute after take-off. The reason for the crash remains to be unknown.

In an announcement from the King, he stated he and his spouse have been “desperately shocked by the horrible occasions in Ahmedabad this morning”.

“Our particular prayers and deepest potential sympathy are with the households and pals of all these affected by this appallingly tragic incident throughout so many countries, as they await information of their family members,” the assertion added.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated he couldn’t verify reviews a British nationwide had survived the crash and the federal government was nonetheless establishing information.

He stated his ideas have been with the households who have been going to be “completely devastated by this terrible information”, whereas his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi stated it was “heart-breaking past phrases”.

UK International Secretary David Lammy has organized disaster groups in India and the UK.

London Gatwick Airport confirmed {that a} reception centre for kinfolk of passengers was being arrange the place data can be supplied, and that it was liaising intently with Air India.

It stated on X: “British nationals who require consular help or have considerations about pals or household ought to name 0207 008 5000.”

Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Worldwide Airport at 13:39 native time (08:09 GMT), Air India stated.

It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

One video verified by the BBC exhibits the airplane descending earlier than a big explosion because it hits the bottom.