He was seated in 11A. Somehow, he made it out alive.

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As investigators recovered the second black box from the wreckage of Flight AI171, hopes of finding more survivors have all but faded. The official death toll has now climbed to 270—making it one of the deadliest air disasters in India’s history, and the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered service.

The flight was headed to London from Ahmedabad when it lost engine power just seconds after takeoff. Moments later, the aircraft spiraled downward—crashing straight into a dormitory housing young medical students and hospital staff.

Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, and 11 children. But only one person survived: British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who is now in hospital with serious injuries. His escape from the flaming wreckage is being described as “a miracle.”

On the ground, devastation is just as profound. At least 29 people were killed in the dormitory—most of them medical students, young doctors, and their families. The aircraft plowed through their dining hall during breakfast. Many bodies are so badly burned that DNA testing is required to identify them.

The newly recovered black box—the cockpit voice recorder—could now help investigators understand what happened in those final, desperate moments. Initial findings point to a failure in engine thrust and landing gear, as well as issues with the flaps, though nothing is confirmed.

India’s aviation authority has grounded all Boeing 787s with similar configurations pending urgent safety inspections. Aryan Aviation and other carriers have also come under scrutiny.

This is the fifth major air-related incident in India in less than two months. But for the families now mourning loved ones—some of whom were just students chasing their dreams—statistics mean nothing.

The wreckage has been cleared. The investigation is underway. But the pain of this tragedy is only beginning to unfold.