Ahmedabad Flight Crash – “How I Survived”: Lone Survivor Recounts His Escape from Doomed Jet

In what many are calling a miracle amidst unimaginable tragedy, 29-year-old Rahul Mehta, the sole survivor of the devastating Air India Flight AI-229 crash, is speaking publicly for the first time. His harrowing account of survival sheds light not only on what happened in those final terrifying moments — but also on the resilience of the human spirit.

The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 254 people when it crashed shortly after takeoff from New Delhi, en route to London. Everyone on board was presumed dead — until Rahul was found, unconscious but alive, in a burned-out patch of farmland less than a mile from the crash site.

“I Thought We Were Just Hitting Turbulence”

From his hospital bed at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rahul, still bandaged and bruised, spoke in a quiet but composed voice.

“About five minutes after takeoff, the plane jolted hard, like we hit turbulence. Then the cabin lights flickered. It felt wrong — not normal flickering, but like a power surge. People around me started looking at each other, nervous.”

Rahul, who was seated near the rear exit, says he instinctively grabbed the seat in front of him as the aircraft began to shudder violently. Then came what he describes as “a deafening roar” and a violent tilt.

“It Felt Like the Plane Was Splitting”

“I don’t remember impact. Just the sound. And then — blackness.”

Rahul says he regained consciousness surrounded by wreckage and fire. Dazed, with his leg pinned beneath twisted metal, he pulled himself free and staggered through a nearby field before collapsing again.

Emergency responders found him 90 minutes later. He had two broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and multiple burns — but he was alive.

️ Survivor’s Account May Hold Clues

Rahul’s detailed memory of flickering lights and unusual vibrations is already drawing the attention of investigators. Experts believe it could point toward a catastrophic electrical failure — possibly affecting the plane’s control systems.

“His account may be crucial in helping us determine what went wrong,” said an official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). “It’s rare to have a survivor in crashes like this — and rarer still to have one who remembers the moments before impact.”

️ “Why Me?”

Rahul, still processing the enormity of what he has survived, speaks with humility and sorrow.

“I don’t feel lucky. I feel guilty. There were families… children. I was just one of them. I still don’t know why I’m here.”

He says he plans to attend every memorial service he can and is committed to helping the investigation “in any way possible.”

Final Thoughts

Rahul Mehta’s survival is nothing short of extraordinary. But beyond the physical escape from the doomed aircraft, his story is also a powerful testimony to the fragility of life, and the profound responsibility of those who survive tragedy — to remember, to share, and to honor those who didn’t make it out.

As India and the world continue to mourn the loss of 253 lives, Rahul’s voice may yet help bring answers, accountability, and closure.