On June 12, 2025, Ahmedabad, India, became the epicenter of one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 of the 242 people aboard and dozens more on the ground. The plane slammed into a medical hostel in the Meghaninagar neighborhood, igniting a fireball that left a community in ruins. Yet, from this inferno emerged a single survivor: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin seated in 11A. His survival, hailed as a miracle, has taken a mystical turn, with whispers that a talisman or secret may have shielded him from the jaws of death. As Ramesh speaks from his hospital bed, his story captivates the world, blending survival, loss, and the enigma of fate.

The Fatal Flight

Flight AI171 was a diverse tapestry of lives, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The passenger list included former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, a family of five seeking a new life, and young cabin crew members from Manipur. The Boeing 787-8, a 12-year-old aircraft with a clean safety record, was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours. At 1:38 p.m. local time, the plane lifted off under clear skies, its destination a nine-hour journey to London.

Within 30 seconds, however, catastrophe struck. The plane, climbing to just 625 feet, issued a frantic “Mayday” call, signaling a dire emergency. Videos captured the aircraft struggling, its nose pitched upward but unable to gain altitude, before it plummeted into the BJ Medical College hostel. The impact unleashed a massive explosion, with 125,000 liters of fuel igniting a blaze that consumed the building and scattered debris across the residential area. The plane’s tail, lodged in the hostel’s ruins, became a haunting symbol of the tragedy.

The Miracle of Seat 11A

Against all odds, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh emerged alive from the wreckage. Seated in 11A, a window seat in economy class near an emergency exit, Ramesh was uniquely positioned for survival. The seat, just ahead of the wing’s structural spar, offered a fortified area that withstood the crash’s force, and the nearby door provided an escape route. Ramesh, a Leicester resident visiting family in India, was traveling with his brother Ajay, seated in 11J across the aisle. When the plane hit, Ramesh’s quick instincts—or something more—propelled him through the emergency exit as flames erupted.

Limping from the wreckage, bloodied and clutching his boarding pass, Ramesh was guided to an ambulance by a bystander. Videos showed him dazed, his shirt torn, as he staggered from the smoldering debris. From Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where he was treated for bruises, cuts, and impact injuries to his chest, eyes, and legs, Ramesh recounted the horror. “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud bang, and the plane dropped,” he said, his voice heavy with disbelief. “I was surrounded by bodies and broken metal. I don’t know how I got out—I just ran.” Doctors described his condition as stable, predicting a physical recovery within days, though the emotional toll of losing his brother and witnessing the carnage lingers.

The Talisman Mystery

Ramesh’s survival, in a crash that spared no one else aboard, has sparked intense speculation. Among the whispers circulating in Ahmedabad and online is the possibility that a talisman or personal secret played a role. Family members revealed that Ramesh always carried a small silver locket, a gift from his late grandmother, engraved with a Sanskrit mantra for protection. The locket, found intact in his pocket after the crash, has become a focal point of intrigue. “He never took it off,” said Nayan Kumar Ramesh, his younger brother, from their Leicester home. “Our grandmother said it would guard him from harm. We don’t know if it’s true, but he’s alive, and that’s all that matters.”

Ramesh himself was cryptic when asked about the locket’s significance. “It’s something personal,” he said, his eyes distant. “I don’t know why I survived, but I held it tightly when the plane shook.” Locals in Ahmedabad, steeped in India’s rich spiritual traditions, have embraced the story, with some calling the locket a divine shield. Others speculate that Ramesh’s survival may stem from a ritual or habit, perhaps a prayer or meditation technique taught by his family, known for their devotion to Hindu traditions. While Ramesh has not confirmed these theories, his reticence has only fueled curiosity, blending the crash’s grim reality with an air of mysticism.

A Brother Lost, a Family Torn

Ramesh’s survival is bittersweet, overshadowed by the loss of his brother Ajay. Seated just a few feet away, Ajay did not escape, a fact that torments Ramesh. “I kept calling for Ajay, but I couldn’t see him,” he said, tears welling. “I don’t understand why I’m here and he’s not.” Moments after the crash, Ramesh video-called his father, his voice frantic: “The plane crashed. Find Ajay!” The Ramesh family, gathered in Leicester, clung to hope as Ajay’s phone rang for hours, but confirmation of his death crushed their spirits. Nayan described the duality of their emotions: “It’s a miracle Vishwash is alive, but losing Ajay is like losing half our heart.”

The family’s grief mirrors that of countless others. The crash’s toll, estimated at 290, includes 241 passengers and crew, plus at least 28 ground victims, including five medical students and a doctor’s spouse. The hostel, bustling with lunchtime activity, was decimated, with survivors recounting desperate leaps from upper floors. Over 260 bodies, many unrecognizable, were taken to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where DNA testing continues to identify remains. The stories of loss—a family of five, a young couple with their daughter, vibrant crew members—have left India and the world in mourning.

A Nation Responds, a World Watches

The tragedy prompted an outpouring of support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site, meeting Ramesh and consoling families. Home Minister Amit Shah, who also met the survivor, coordinated rescue efforts, while Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu ensured medical aid reached the injured. Air India, under Tata Group ownership, offered ₹1 crore (about $116,000) per victim’s family and set up support centers in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Gatwick. The airline’s social media went dark, and operations at Ahmedabad airport paused briefly before resuming.

Internationally, condolences poured in from U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and King Charles III, with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board joining India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to probe the crash. The Flight Data Recorder, recovered from the wreckage, is under analysis, with theories ranging from bird strikes to engine failure or pilot error. The Cockpit Voice Recorder remains missing, delaying insights into the pilots’ final moments. The crash, the first fatal incident for the Boeing 787, has raised questions about the aircraft’s maintenance and Air India’s protocols.

Investigating the Cause and the Miracle

The AAIB’s investigation is probing why Flight AI171 failed to climb, with videos showing the landing gear down and flaps possibly unextended. Speculation includes a double engine failure, perhaps triggered by birds, or a configuration error by the experienced crew. The Boeing 787’s stellar safety record makes the crash a troubling anomaly, and Boeing’s CEO has pledged full cooperation. Air India’s maintenance history, despite recent improvements, is also under scrutiny, with public sentiment on platforms like X reflecting skepticism about the airline’s reliability.

Amid these technical questions, Ramesh’s survival—and the talisman story—has captured imaginations. Aviation experts marvel at his escape, noting that seat 11A’s proximity to the wing spar and emergency exit was critical. Yet, the locket’s role, whether spiritual or symbolic, resonates deeply in a country where faith often intertwines with fate. Social media buzzes with theories, from divine intervention to ancestral blessings, though Ramesh’s own words—“I don’t know how I’m alive”—suggest he, too, is grappling with the mystery.

A Symbol of Hope and Healing

Ahmedabad, a city of resilience, mourns its losses but finds solace in Ramesh’s survival. The medical students who escaped the hostel, the responders who braved flames, and the families enduring grief all embody a collective strength. The crash has sparked calls for stricter safety measures, including better zoning around airports and enhanced bird strike prevention, as India’s aviation sector grows.

For Ramesh, the road ahead is fraught with emotional challenges. His survival, whether by luck, design, or a grandmother’s locket, is a beacon of hope in a tragedy that claimed so many. As he recovers, his cryptic references to the talisman invite reflection on the unseen forces that shape our lives. The world watches, awaiting answers from the black box and the man in 11A, whose escape from a fiery end has woven a thread of wonder into a tapestry of sorrow.