LONDON (FN) — Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the June Air India crash in Ahmedabad, India, has spoken publicly for the first time about the physical and emotional toll of the tragedy that claimed 260 lives, including his younger brother.
In interviews with UK media outlets on Monday, Ramesh described the aftermath of the crash as “very difficult,” saying the loss had devastated his family. “God gave me life but took all my happiness,” he told reporters, adding that his brother’s death had “completely brought down” his household.
The crash occurred on June 12, when Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, plunged into a medical college shortly after takeoff. The impact killed 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. Ramesh, seated near an emergency exit, was the only person to survive.
A preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau revealed that both fuel switches were moved to the “cut-off” position immediately after takeoff, halting fuel supply to the engines. The finding has raised concerns about whether the crash was intentional, though no official conclusion has been drawn.
Ramesh, a British citizen from Leicester, said he suffers from chronic pain in his leg, shoulder, knee, and back. He has not returned to work or driving since the incident. “When I walk, I walk slowly. My wife helps me,” he told the BBC.
He also revealed that he experiences persistent flashbacks and severe insomnia, sleeping only three to four hours a night. Advisers said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder while hospitalized in India but has received no further treatment since returning to the UK.
Air India, in a statement, said it had offered Ramesh a meeting with senior executives from its parent company, Tata Group, and confirmed that an interim compensation payment had been transferred. The airline emphasized that care for victims’ families “remains our absolute priority.”
The crash has prompted renewed scrutiny of Air India’s safety protocols and aircraft maintenance procedures. Aviation experts have called for a deeper investigation into the cockpit actions and mechanical systems involved.
Ramesh has declined to discuss the crash itself, saying the memories are too painful. “I can’t explain about my brother,” he said. “It’s very difficult for me and my family.”
As inquiries continue, Ramesh’s story has become a symbol of survival and unresolved grief, highlighting the human cost of aviation disasters and the long road to recovery for those left behind.
