• Ramesh Viswashkumar, the sole survivor, escaped through a broken emergency exit.
• The crash claimed the lives of 241 others onboard and several more on the ground.
• Witnessing the tragedy, Ramesh described feeling disoriented but determined to survive.
• He was seated near the emergency exit, which provided a crucial escape route.
• Indian Prime Minister Modi met Ramesh during his hospital recovery.

The tragic crash of an Air India flight near Ahmedabad resulted in the loss of 241 lives, with Ramesh Viswashkumar miraculously emerging as the sole survivor. He was seated in 11A, near the emergency exit, and managed to escape through a broken hatch after the plane collided with a medical college hostel shortly after takeoff, as confirmed by police reports and eyewitness accounts. Viswashkumar vividly recalls the harrowing moments post-crash, saying, "When I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive," according to The Jakarta Post, Reuters, and Africanews.

In the moments leading up to the crash, Viswashkumar felt the plane "came to a standstill" shortly after taking off. He described the interior lights turning on and the sudden thrust that followed, which did not prevent the aircraft from crashing at high speed. Upon realizing he was alive despite the chaos and flames around him, he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and escaped through the emergency exit, stating it was the only available route, as the opposite side of the plane was blocked by the hostel's wall, according to ABC News and NPR.

Viswashkumar's survival amid such devastating circumstances has been described as nothing short of miraculous. After escaping, he was seen limping along the street in a blood-stained shirt, further highlighting the severity of the disaster. Medical professionals assessed his condition at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, noting he was disoriented but did not sustain life-threatening injuries, according to CBS News and Reuters.

As the investigation continues into the tragic incident, social media footage and accounts from first responders paint a stark picture—among the wreckage were not only passengers but also individuals on the ground who suffered injuries. Ramesh's cousin reported that shortly after the crash, he called their father to inform him he had survived, expressing concern for his brother Ajay, who was also on the flight but has not been located, according to Al Jazeera and CBS News.

The gravity of the situation has elicited reactions from Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited both the crash site and the hospital where Ramesh was treated. During his visit, he extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, acknowledging the somber reality of what has become one of India's worst aviation disasters, as reported by Africanews and Channel News Asia.