Key Facts
On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed near Ahmedabad shortly after take-off, killing 260 people. The lone survivor, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, lost his brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh in the disaster. One year later, he has spoken about the ongoing emotional and financial challenges he faces.
The Survivor's Story
Vishwas Kumar Ramesh became known as the 'miracle man' after walking away from the wreckage of the AI-171 crash. However, in a statement marking the first anniversary of the tragedy, he revealed that survival was not the end of his ordeal. "People see that I've survived, but they don't always see the challenges that continue behind closed doors," he said. "I still struggle with sleep, anxiety and difficult memories."
Kumar recounted the moments after the crash: "When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran." His brother Ajay, who was seated elsewhere on the aircraft, did not survive. The loss of his brother, he described as the deepest wound left by the tragedy.
Emotional and Financial Toll
While his physical injuries healed, the emotional scars proved harder to overcome. Friends and family have described how Kumar struggled with recurring memories, difficulty sleeping, and the challenge of adjusting to life after surviving an event that killed almost everyone around him. He has spoken of feeling isolated and withdrawing from public life.
The disaster also brought financial strain. Kumar and his brother had invested much of their savings in a fishing business in India. After the crash and Ajay's death, the family's plans were thrown into uncertainty, adding another layer of stress.
The Crash Investigation
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departed Ahmedabad for London Gatwick on June 12, 2025, carrying 242 passengers and crew. Roughly 32 seconds after take-off, the aircraft lost power and crashed into the BJ Medical College campus. A preliminary report revealed that fuel control switches for both engines moved from RUN to CUTOFF shortly after take-off, depriving the engines of fuel. The upcoming status report is expected to outline progress but not identify the cause.
What Readers Should Know
- The AI-171 crash is one of India's worst aviation disasters, with 260 fatalities.
- Vishwas Kumar Ramesh is the only survivor and continues to face emotional and financial challenges.
- The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with a status report expected soon.
FAQ
Who is the sole survivor of the AI-171 crash?
Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, is the only survivor of the Air India AI-171 crash that killed 260 people.
What happened to the AI-171 flight?
On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 people on the ground.
What did the survivor say about his experience?
Vishwas Kumar Ramesh said that survival was only part of the story; he continues to struggle with sleep, anxiety, and memories of the crash.