A tragic Air India plane crash has claimed the lives of 279 people, including nearly everyone on board and several individuals on the ground. Out of the 242 passengers and crew, just one person survived—40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen.
Officials say the death toll could have been even worse if not for the quick thinking of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who managed to steer the plane away from a nearby hospital housing more than 3,000 patients in the final moments before impact.
Ramesh, who walked away with only minor bruises, described his escape: “My seat and the door were broken. I saw a way out and just went for it.” His calm appearance in post-crash video footage has sparked some skepticism online, but many are calling his survival nothing short of extraordinary.
Tragically, Ramesh’s brother—who was also on the flight—was among the victims. Since the crash, Ramesh has received a hospital visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The crash site was engulfed in flames reportedly reaching temperatures of 2,700°F, making it extremely difficult for investigators to identify remains. Forensic teams are working around the clock, using DNA to match victims with their families.
While many questions remain, Ramesh’s survival is being called a rare miracle in the midst of one of the worst air disasters in recent memory.