Fact Check: "Mr. Ramesh survived a fiery plane crash, escaping through the fuselage."
What We Know
On June 13, 2025, an Air India plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India, resulting in the tragic deaths of 241 individuals on board, with only one survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh. Reports indicate that Ramesh was seated in an exit row and managed to escape through an opening in the fuselage after unbuckling his seatbelt. He described his escape as using his leg to push through the opening and crawling out of the wreckage (BBC, NPR). An expert from Northeastern University noted that various factors, including Ramesh's seating position and the structural integrity of the fuselage, contributed to his survival (Northeastern).
Analysis
The claim that Mr. Ramesh survived a fiery plane crash and escaped through the fuselage is supported by multiple credible sources. Ramesh himself recounted his experience in interviews, stating that he was able to escape through a gap in the wreckage after the plane crashed into a building (BBC). He described the moments leading up to the crash, including flickering lights and a sudden impact, which corroborates the chaotic nature of the incident.
Stephen Wood, an EMS expert, explained that Ramesh's survival was likely due to a combination of luck and specific circumstances, such as being seated in an exit row, which may have provided a quicker escape route (Northeastern). Wood also mentioned the concept of "survivability pockets," which can occur in crashes, allowing for rare survival scenarios even when the aircraft is largely destroyed.
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include firsthand accounts from Ramesh and analyses from experts in emergency medical services. The BBC and NPR are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards, while Northeastern University is a respected academic institution.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Mr. Ramesh survived a fiery plane crash and escaped through the fuselage is substantiated by credible eyewitness accounts and expert analyses. His survival is attributed to a combination of fortunate circumstances and his strategic seating position, which allowed him to escape the wreckage.
