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Topics: Air India, News, World News
Jess Battison
Warning: This article contains graphic content which some readers may find distressing.
Recently emerged footage shows the moment the only survivor of the Air India crash walked away from the wreckage.
As black smoke billows behind him, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh managed to escape onto the streets. He is the only person of the 242 on board to have survived the plane crash last Thursday (12 June).
The dad was clutching his phone as he emerged from the hostel housing doctors and medical students which Air India Flight AI171 crashed into. Panicked locals rushed to him as the emergency services were called as he cried out 'the plane exploded'.
Ramesh was soon taken to hospital as it's said he had tried to go back to the burning aircraft to check on his brother, who was also on board.
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Miraculously surviving in his 11A seat (close to the plane's emergency exit), the man can't believe he came out alive.
"Everything happened in front of my eyes," he told Indian broadcaster Doordarshan. "For a little while, I thought I was also going to die. But when I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive.
"So I tried to escape. I pulled out the belt from under my seat and tried to escape. Then I managed to do it. I saw others and the air hostess in front of me who couldn’t escape."
Ramesh claimed the emergency door came off in the crash landing and then when he got up there were 'bodies all around' as he 'stood up and ran'.
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The doctor who has been looking after him said he has some minor injuries.
"He has some abrasions over his left forearm and swelling over left eyelid and over the eyes," they explained. "Chest and abdomen is clear, no lung fractures present. The patient is vitally stable."
Thursday's tragic crash is being investigated as the cause is yet to be determined, with an analyst suggesting it could be 'dual engine failure'.
The Air India flight was bound for London Gatwick when it set off from Ahmedabad in western India. However, it lost signal shortly after takeoff with a mayday call issued within moments.
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The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had only climbed to 625 feet before it crashed into a residential area just outside the airport.