South Africa Mourns with India After Deadly Air India Crash

A heartbreaking loss unites nations in grief as SA extends support to India and affected families worldwide.

South Africa has joined the global outpouring of grief following the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI171. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 241 people, went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. The aircraft slammed into a densely populated area in Ghoda Camp, tearing through a hospital and a student hostel. At least 242 people have been confirmed dead, and only one passenger miraculously survived.

In a statement issued through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), South Africa offered its deepest condolences to India and the other countries affected by the tragedy. “The thoughts of the people of South Africa are with the people of India as well as all those who lost loved ones in this unimaginable disaster,” Dirco said.

JUST IN: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of the Air India Boeing 787 crash, according to India Today.

Ramesh, 40, says there was a loud noise after takeoff.

“Thirty seconds after take off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so… pic.twitter.com/odls9uFKXK

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 12, 2025

A Survivor’s Story Amid the Rubble

British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh has emerged as the sole survivor of the crash, defying the odds in a moment that feels pulled from a film script. Seated near an emergency exit, Ramesh somehow managed to escape the wreckage before the plane was consumed by fire. Local police reported that he jumped out after impact, disoriented but alive.

Amid all the horror of the Air India plane crash, this story of British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh from Leicester, who was in seat 11a, being the sole survivor and walking away with just a few scratches, is truly astonishing. pic.twitter.com/8py9Rssf0d

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 12, 2025

He told authorities he has no memory of the crash itself , just the chaos that followed. The survivor’s story has since gone viral, drawing emotional reactions and prayers on social media under hashtags like #AI171Survivor and #PrayForIndia.

Tragedy Captured in Real Time

Adding a tragic twist, British couple Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who were among the passengers, had posted joyful updates on Instagram just hours before boarding the doomed flight. The couple, founders of a spiritual wellness centre, were seen laughing and reflecting on their life-changing trip to India. Their followers, now heartbroken, have turned their comment sections into digital memorials.

Their last posts included plans to release a travel vlog, a project that now serves as a haunting time capsule.

A Scene of Devastation

Photos released by India’s Central Industrial Security Force show the grim aftermath: fragments of the fuselage embedded in concrete, walls torn down, and the smouldering remains of what was once a bustling aircraft. The Ghoda Camp neighbourhood has been left scarred both physically and emotionally, with rescue workers and residents still digging through the debris.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, has promised a full investigation into the crash. “We’re not going to leave any stone unturned,” he said. “We owe that much to the victims and their families.”

A Global Tragedy, A Shared Mourning

Though the crash happened thousands of kilometres away, its impact is global. With passengers from various nationalities on board, the grief rippled across borders. For South Africa, the tragedy is a painful reminder of how interconnected our world has become and how vulnerable.

Local X users have been sharing Indian flag emojis and messages of solidarity with the hashtags #SouthAfricaStandsWithIndia and #OneWorldOnePain. Several Joburg temples and interfaith organisations have already announced candlelight vigils in honour of the victims.

From Condolences to Commitment

As rescue and recovery efforts continue in India, South Africa’s expression of sympathy reflects not just diplomatic protocol but genuine human connection. In times like these, politics and passports fade and what remains is a collective ache, a shared humanity, and the hope that lessons learned might prevent future heartbreak.

For now, the skies are quiet, but the world watches and waits for answers and for healing.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com