Air India Crash, The miracle of seat 11A and the tragedy of seat 11J

Air India Crash, The miracle of seat 11A and the tragedy of seat 11J: Two British brothers boarded Air India flight but only one left alive – family’s joy and dread as father is sole survivor but sibling is missing

The British brother of the only man to survive Air India‘s devastating plane crash is today pictured by MailOnline as their family weeps with joy and dread.

https://www.tiktok.com/@torumnews/video/7515026560798297366

Ajaykumar Ramesh, 35, and Viswash, 40, had been in India on a business trip before they boarded the doomed flight travelling from Ahmedabad to Gatwick on Thursday.

In what has been described as a miracle, Viswash – seated in 11A by the exit – survived, but his sibling who was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J perished in the fireball explosion.

@themedia.nws

Flight AI 171 went down in Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff—crashing into buildings and killing dozens on the ground. Only one passenger survived. 🙏 Is this a miracle… or aviation failure? What’s your take? #breakingnews #airindia #planecrash #aviationnews #ahmedabad #aviationsafety #miraclesurvivor #tiktoknews

♬ original sound – THE MEDIA

Last night, relatives gathered at the family’s terraced home in Leicester to comfort the brothers’ mother who is said to be too grief-stricken to speak.

‘It’s a miracle at least one of them survived,’ younger brother Nayankumar Ramesh, 27, told us.  

‘He said his plane had crashed and he couldn’t find anyone, we couldn’t believe it. There was blood running down his face.

‘You can see in the picture (in the Indian Press taken in hospital) that he has been injured. We’re flying out there tomorrow.’

Hours after the crash, Nayan said the family were desperate for news about what happened to Ajay, as his phone was still ringing out when they called it. 

@fetch.urdu

Horrifying footage shows Air India Flight AI171 crashing just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, erupting into flames. The Boeing 787 struggled to gain altitude and slammed into a residential area, killing many of the 242 on board. Rescue efforts continue as the nation mourns the tragedy. #fetchpakistan #AirIndiaCrash #FlightAI171

♬ original sound – Fetch Urdu

Air India later confirmed that 241 of the 242 people aboard flight AI171 died in the crash – meaning all hope of Ajay’s survival was dashed. 

‘We’re so confused’, Nayankumar said before the news. ‘We’re hoping he’s survived and been taken to hospital as well.’

Ajaykumar Ramesh (left) who died in Thursday’s plane crash and his brother Viswashkumar Ramesh (right), who miraculously survived

Ajaykumar, 35, was sat relatively near his brother who miraculously survived

The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon 

@stevenrichardma

Seat 11A was the sole survivor of the Boeing 787-8 Air India flight that devastingly crashed en route to London. The man walked away from the crash with no major injuries. #fyp #news #airindia #boeing #seat11a

♬ original sound – Steven Richard

The siblings had been a few seats apart onboard the plane, with survivor Viswash sat at 11A and his younger brother positioned at 11J on the other side of the aisle

Viswash lying in hospital with a bloodied face and injuries after the tragic crash, which claimed the life of his younger brother 

Younger brother Nayan Ramesh, who spoke of the heartbreak of losing one brother while another survived 

Asked how the family are wrestling with the tragedy of one brother surviving and the loss of the other, he gestured to his sobbing mother, Manibai Ramesh, behind him.

‘That’s your answer’, the brother said. ‘We’re just baffled, baffled.’ 

He added: ‘It’s a miracle at least one of them survived.’ 

Nayan said his older siblings were in India on a business trip concerning their family business. Viswash was formerly the sole director of textile company RMV Fashion, which closed down in 2022. 

The brothers’ cousin Ajay Valgi, from Leicester, told how Viswash called his family to say he was ‘fine’ after fleeing the burning aircraft. 

But while they miraculously heard from one brother, younger sibling Ajaykumar was tragically never in touch. 

Cousin Ajay told the BBC: ‘I’m feeling absolutely upset. He’s not just my cousin, he’s also one of my best friends as well.

‘They were sitting next to each other, but we don’t know what happened to [Ajay]. 

‘We’re not doing well. We’re all upset,’ he added. 

Astonishing footage showed Viswash with visible injuries hobbling away from the scene of the crash. He reportedly sustained injuries to his chest, eyes and feet. 

Police found the passenger in a residential area in Gujarat, and transferred him to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Speaking to local media from his hospital bed, Viswash said his brother had been sitting on a nearby row, adding: ‘I can’t find him anymore.’ 

‘Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,’ he added.

‘When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran.

‘There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.’

Police said Viswash had ‘managed to escape by jumping out the emergency door’.  

A hospital medic reportedly claimed the survivor told him how the jet had suddenly split in half, throwing him out before a huge explosion. 

Another added: ‘He told us he had been on the plane that crashed, but no one believed him at first.’ 

Brother Nayan said his brother was in disbelief at how he got out alive, saying on the phone: ‘I have no idea how I survived or exited the plane.’

‘When he was on the runway, my dad called him. And Viswash said, “oh, we’re going to take off soon”,’ he said. 

‘And then literally like two minutes later, he video called my dad as he crashed.

‘He said, “our plane’s crashed, I don’t know where my brother is. I don’t see any other passengers. I don’t know how I’m alive, how I exited the plane”.

‘All he was worried about on the phone was telling us “find Ajay, you must find Ajay”,’ Nayan added.