Briton who was sole survivor of Ahmedabad plane crash has 'no idea' how he escaped

A British man is the sole survivor of the London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people that crashed shortly after takeoff yesterday in the north-west Indian city of Ahmedabad.

- Alexandra Topping Kate McCusker

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was in seat 11A of the flight, said the aircraft crashed almost immediately after takeoff. It is believed his brother was on the same flight.

"Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly," Ramesh told the Hindustan Times from a general ward in the civil hospital in Asarwa, Ahmedabad.

The 40-year-old British national told the newspaper he was returning to the UK, where he has lived for 20 years, after visiting family in India.

Another brother, speaking outside the family home in Leicester, said Ramesh had "no idea" how he survived.

Nayan Kumar Ramesh, 27, added: "We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We're devastated, just devastated. He said: 'I have no idea how I exited the plane."

A relative added: "He's doing well I think. It's a big shock. I don't have many words to describe the incident."

Initial reports suggested all passengers onboard had died, but local police confirmed they had found one survivor of the flight, which plummeted into a hostel housing medical students, doctors and their families.

Amateur videos showed a huge explosion and thick smoke in the immediate aftermath.