The world is reeling from the tragic crash of an Air India passenger plane that left 204 people dead and only one survivor, who has now broken his silence about the terrifying moments leading up to the disaster.
The crash occurred on Tuesday night as the aircraft approached Mumbai International Airport amid poor weather and low visibility.
The plane, carrying 205 people on board, struck a towering construction crane near a high-rise building before crashing in a fiery explosion just two miles from the runway.
Miraculously, 28-year-old Arjun Mehta was pulled from the wreckage alive. Now recovering at Mumbai General Hospital, Arjun has begun to recount the harrowing experience that claimed the lives of everyone around him.
“There was a loud screech, then a sharp jolt. People screamed. The lights went out, and the next thing I knew, we were spinning,” he whispered through a breathing mask.
According to Arjun, the flight had been bumpy from the start, with turbulence shaking the cabin for much of the journey. But the final minutes were chaos. “The plane suddenly dipped. Some people were crying, others praying. Then we hit something. It was like being torn apart from the inside.”
Emergency responders arrived within minutes but were confronted with a horrific scene — mangled metal, fire, and unrecognizable remains.
Recovery operations continued through the night, with 204 bodies retrieved from the wreckage. Many of them were severely burned, making identification a difficult and emotional task for authorities and families.
Preliminary investigations point to a combination of factors including heavy rainfall, poor visibility, and possible negligence in the placement of the crane, which may have been too close to the aircraft’s flight path.
Government officials have promised a thorough inquiry. “This is a national tragedy. We will uncover every detail to ensure accountability,” said India’s Civil Aviation Minister.
Arjun’s survival is being called nothing short of miraculous. Doctors say he suffered multiple injuries but is stable and expected to recover. “I don’t know why I lived,” he said tearfully, “but I will carry their memories with me forever.”
As India mourns one of its deadliest air disasters in decades, the country also clings to the survivor’s account as a painful but powerful testimony to the final moments of flight AI-702.
