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| ‘I saw people dying in front of my eyes’: British survivor describes Air India crash | ‘I saw people dying in front of my eyes’: British survivor describes Air India crash |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Vishwash Kumar Ramesh says he thought he was dead as plane exploded but escaped through opening in fuselage | Vishwash Kumar Ramesh says he thought he was dead as plane exploded but escaped through opening in fuselage |
| Air India crash – latest updates | Air India crash – latest updates |
| The British survivor of the Air India plane crash has described the horror of watching people “dying in front of my eyes”. | The British survivor of the Air India plane crash has described the horror of watching people “dying in front of my eyes”. |
| Vishwash Kumar Ramesh said he thought he was dead when the plane crashed into a building, before realising he was alive and escaping the wreckage. | Vishwash Kumar Ramesh said he thought he was dead when the plane crashed into a building, before realising he was alive and escaping the wreckage. |
| Speaking from his hospital bed, the 40-year-old told DD News the plane felt like it was “stuck in the air” shortly after takeoff before lights began flickering green and white, adding: “It suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.” | Speaking from his hospital bed, the 40-year-old told DD News the plane felt like it was “stuck in the air” shortly after takeoff before lights began flickering green and white, adding: “It suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.” |
| The Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college as it crashed in a fireball on Thursday, killing the other 241 people onboard. | The Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college as it crashed in a fireball on Thursday, killing the other 241 people onboard. |
| It is one of the deadliest plane crashes in terms of the number of British nationals killed, and the first involving a 787. | It is one of the deadliest plane crashes in terms of the number of British nationals killed, and the first involving a 787. |
| Ramesh said: “I can’t believe how I came out of it alive. For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too but when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive. I still can’t believe how I survived.” | Ramesh said: “I can’t believe how I came out of it alive. For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too but when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive. I still can’t believe how I survived.” |
| Ramesh told the broadcaster: “When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white. | Ramesh told the broadcaster: “When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white. |
| “The aircraft wasn’t gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded. At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage. | “The aircraft wasn’t gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded. At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage. |
| “I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out. I don’t know how I survived,” he said. “I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me ... I walked out of the rubble.” | “I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out. I don’t know how I survived,” he said. “I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me ... I walked out of the rubble.” |
| The crash site was visited by the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, on Friday, with video footage showing him talking to Ramesh in hospital. | The crash site was visited by the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, on Friday, with video footage showing him talking to Ramesh in hospital. |
| At least five medical students were killed and about 50 injured. There are fears the number of people killed on the ground could rise. | At least five medical students were killed and about 50 injured. There are fears the number of people killed on the ground could rise. |
| Investigations are continuing into the cause of the crash. | Investigations are continuing into the cause of the crash. |
| A British couple, Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who ran a spiritual wellness centre, were said to be among the dead. | |
| The Gloucester Muslim Community group offered “sincere and deepest condolences” after Akeel Nanabawa, his wife, Hannaa, and their four-year-old daughter, Sara, were reported to be among the victims. | The Gloucester Muslim Community group offered “sincere and deepest condolences” after Akeel Nanabawa, his wife, Hannaa, and their four-year-old daughter, Sara, were reported to be among the victims. |
| Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, called for people to come together as he announced the deaths of “Raxa Modha, infant Rudra Modha, and Ms K Mistri” in his constituency. | Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, called for people to come together as he announced the deaths of “Raxa Modha, infant Rudra Modha, and Ms K Mistri” in his constituency. |
| Aviation experts have speculated about the possible causes of the crash, from both engines failing – possibly due to a bird strike, as happened in the “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009 – to the flaps on the aircraft’s wings not being set to the correct position for takeoff. | Aviation experts have speculated about the possible causes of the crash, from both engines failing – possibly due to a bird strike, as happened in the “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009 – to the flaps on the aircraft’s wings not being set to the correct position for takeoff. |
| The Air India chief executive, Campbell Wilson, visited the area, according to the BBC, but did not take questions from the media. | The Air India chief executive, Campbell Wilson, visited the area, according to the BBC, but did not take questions from the media. |
| The Foreign Office said any British nationals requiring consular assistance, or who had concerns about family or friends, should call 020 7008 5000. |