Sole Survivor of Air India Crash Struggles with Grief and Trauma

Viswashkumar Ramesh, the only survivor of June’s devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, has described himself as the “luckiest man alive” – a label that now feels cruel as he mourns his brother and battles severe physical and psychological wounds from the tragedy.

In his first detailed interview since the disaster, the 39-year-old Leicester resident told BBC News that while his escape felt like a “miracle,” the trauma has left him isolated and unable to return to normal life.

“I lost my brother as well. My brother is my backbone,” Ramesh said. “Last few years, he was always supporting me. Now I’m alone. I just sit in my room alone, not talking with my wife, my son. I just like to be alone in my house.”

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash, which claimed 241 lives, occurred just five minutes after Air India flight AI 171 took off from Ahmedabad bound for London’s Gatwick Airport on June 12. The aircraft plunged into a residential area called Meghani Nagar, creating a scene of devastation captured in videos showing thick smoke rising from the wreckage.

Ramesh escaped with his life after unbuckling his seatbelt and crawling through an opening near his seat, 11A. His remarkable survival drew attention from the highest levels of government, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally visiting him in the hospital.

However, four months later, Ramesh’s physical and emotional recovery remains extraordinarily difficult. He continues to suffer from serious injuries to his legs, shoulder, knees, and back that prevent him from working or driving.

“When I walk, not walk properly, slowly, slowly, my wife helps,” he explained, describing the physical limitations that now define his daily existence.

The psychological toll has been equally devastating. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder while hospitalized in India, Ramesh has reportedly not received further treatment since returning to the UK. His advisors describe him as “lost and broken.”

“I’m thinking all night, I’m suffering mentally,” Ramesh told BBC News. “Every day is painful for the whole family.”

Sanjiv Patel, a local community leader supporting Ramesh, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the trauma: “They’re in crisis, mentally, physically, financially. It’s devastated his family.”

The interview has highlighted growing tensions between crash victims’ families and Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group. Family spokesman Radd Seiger claims that repeated requests for meetings with airline executives have been ignored or declined, despite the ongoing suffering of those affected by the tragedy.

“The people who should be sitting here today are the executives of Air India,” Seiger said. “Please come and sit down with us so that we can work through this together to try and alleviate some of this suffering.”

In response to these allegations, Air India issued a statement to BBC News asserting that company leaders have continued to visit families of victims and that their offer to meet Ramesh’s representatives “remains open.” The airline insisted that care for Ramesh and other crash victims “remains our absolute priority.”

The crash represents one of the deadliest aviation disasters involving a Boeing aircraft in recent years. Coming amid heightened scrutiny of Boeing’s safety record following issues with other models, the incident has raised questions about aviation safety standards and the adequacy of support for crash survivors and victims’ families.

For Ramesh, labeled by many as miraculous for his survival, the reality is far from celebratory. His story underscores the complex, long-term consequences that extend far beyond the immediate aftermath of such disasters, affecting survivors physically, psychologically, and socially for years to come.

As investigations into the crash continue, Ramesh’s testimony provides a sobering reminder of the human cost behind aviation disasters and the ongoing challenges faced by those who survive them.