Expert Lists Safest Seats in Plane After Air India Crash that Killed 241 People, Left One Survivor

• Amidst the devastating Air India plane crash that claimed over 260 lives, British aviation experts have analysed the sole survivor’s escape and how his seat placement may have saved him
• Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the only known survivor, managed to flee the burning wreckage just seconds before the plane was engulfed in flames
• Aviation specialists suggest that seating position and proximity to emergency exits could play a crucial role in a passenger’s chances of survival in catastrophic air disasters

British aviation experts have shed light on the factors that may influence a passenger's chances of survival in a plane crash, following the tragic Air India disaster on Thursday.

The catastrophic event claimed the lives of more than 260 people, with only one known survivor emerging from the wreckage.

Air India crash's sole survivor speaks

Among the chaos and destruction, British father Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was miraculously found alive.

The London-based man, who had been visiting family in India, was seen hobbling away from the crash site with visible injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet.

Recounting the horrifying experience from his hospital bed, Mr Ramesh described the desperate moments following the crash.

"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," he said.

Air India crash: Experts share insights

Experts believe that Mr Ramesh’s seat placement—11A on the aircraft—may have played a crucial role in his survival. The seat, located in the fourth row, offered proximity to an emergency exit, providing him with a swift escape route.

Aviation expert Professor John Alexander McDermid, from the University of York, explained the significance of seat positioning.

"Did he have a better than average chance of survival because of where he was sat? The intuitive answer is yes. There's a bit more space around the emergency exit—and he could then get out of the aircraft quickly."

Professor McDermid added that passengers seated toward the rear of the plane may also have increased chances of survival in certain crash scenarios, though every situation differs.

Air India crash: More experts insights

The expert warned that Mr Ramesh had mere seconds to flee before the aircraft became consumed in flames.

"I think we're talking single digits seconds. From the videos we've seen, the plane went up in flames very quickly and was carrying a full fuel load. At this point, just after takeoff, with the severity of impact, it's very likely the fuel tank or at least the fuel pipes will have ruptured on impact," he explained.

Air India: Seat arrangement of past survivors

Historical data suggests that passengers seated near the front of the plane may have a higher likelihood of survival.

In 2020, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Karachi, only two passengers out of 99 onboard survived. Both men had been seated within the first eight rows of the plane, further reinforcing expert theories on seating position and survival odds.

While sole survivors in plane crashes remain rare, aviation experts continue to study patterns that could help improve passenger safety and aircraft design in the future.

241 dead in London-bound plane crash

Legit.ng earlier reported that a London-bound Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad, India, leaving 241 dead and one confirmed survivor, according to officials.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 242 people when it went down shortly after take-off, striking a residential complex occupied by medical professionals, the BBC confirmed.

Authorities confirmed that one person survived the disaster. "Yes, one survivor is confirmed," said Dhananjay Dwivedi, principal secretary of Gujarat state's health department. The individual is receiving medical treatment, though further details were not disclosed.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng