Man in Seat 11A Miraculously Survives Air India Crash That Killed 204

In a rare story of survival amid tragedy, a British national onboard Air India flight AI171 was the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash that claimed the lives of at least 204 people in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon.

The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it crashed just minutes after takeoff, plummeting into a hostel building at B J Medical College and Hospital. The aircraft had climbed only 625 feet before it lost contact with air traffic control and went down in a densely populated area.

Among the passengers was 38-year-old Ramesh Vishwaskumar Bucharvada, who was seated in seat 11A, a window seat located directly behind an emergency exit. According to aviation seating data from Aerolopa, this seat is situated in the first row of the economy cabin, near the aircraft’s forward doors, which double as emergency exits.

Bucharvada managed to escape the burning wreckage and was later seen in a video, bloodied but conscious, walking toward an ambulance as bystanders surrounded him. Speaking in Gujarati, he described the horrifying moment: “The plane exploded,” he said, adding, “They [the passengers] are still back there.”

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik confirmed the survival of one passenger, stating, “The police found one survivor in seat 11A. One survivor has been found in the hospital and is under treatment. We cannot confirm the final death toll at this moment as the aircraft crashed in a residential area.”

Emergency crews continue to work at the crash site, searching through the debris for victims and potential additional survivors. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India working to determine what went wrong during the aircraft’s ascent.

Air India has set up dedicated hotline numbers for affected families:

• India: 1800 5691 444
• International: +91 8062779200

This incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India in recent years. The nation mourns the tragic loss of life as authorities pledge a full and transparent investigation into the crash.

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