Air India Crash : A Survivor’s Pain

The Survivor: One Man’s Ordeal After the Ahmedabad Skies Fell

Viswashkumar Ramesh describes a life of profound contradiction. He feels himself the most fortunate man on the planet, yet he simultaneously endures an almost unbearable level of physical and mental torment. Mr Ramesh is the only person to have survived the Air India catastrophe that claimed the lives of 241 individuals. The world looked on in amazement at the extraordinary scenes in Ahmedabad when he emerged from the smouldering fuselage of the aircraft destined for London. The escape felt nothing short of miraculous. This miracle, however, is shadowed by an immense and devastating loss. His younger brother, Ajay, was seated just a few rows away on that flight. Ajay did not survive the June disaster, leaving a void in the family that can never be filled.

A Return to a Different Life

The journey back to his Leicester home did not bring solace. Instead, it marked the beginning of a harrowing new chapter in his life. His advisers confirm that a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder has left Mr Ramesh struggling severely. The condition has erected a wall between him and his loved ones. He finds himself incapable of speaking with his wife or his four-year-old son. The trauma has isolated him within his own home, a place that should represent safety and comfort but now serves as a chamber for his solitary grief and recurring nightmares. The man who returned from India is not the same man who left. His family sees a stranger, lost in a private world of pain.

Fire in the Sky

The Boeing 787 flight was engulfed in flames over western India. The aircraft crashed only moments after it had completed its take-off sequence. The disaster unfolded with shocking speed, leaving no time for those on board to comprehend their fate. Striking video footage, shared widely in the immediate aftermath, captured the surreal image of Mr Ramesh as he moved away from the chaos. He displayed what seemed to be only superficial injuries. Behind him, a massive column of black smoke billowed into the sky, a stark testament to the immense destruction he had just escaped. The footage became a global symbol of both improbable survival and overwhelming tragedy.

The Weight of a Miracle

During an interview with BBC News, an emotional Mr Ramesh struggled to articulate his feelings. Speaking in his native Gujarati, he conveyed a sense of disbelief that still haunts him. He acknowledges his survival but cannot truly accept it. The word "miracle" comes to his lips, but it is a term laden with the heavy price of his brother's life. Ajay was more than a sibling; he was his backbone. For the past several years, Ajay had been his constant support, a reliable presence through every challenge. Now, that pillar of strength is gone, leaving Mr Ramesh to navigate the crushing consequences of the catastrophe entirely on his own.

A House of Solitude

His domestic life has been catastrophically impacted by the devastating ordeal. He described a home once filled with warmth that has now fallen silent. Mr Ramesh finds himself completely alone. He explained that he just sits in his room, isolated from the very people he loves the most. There is no conversation with his wife, nor with his young son. The desire for solitude has become overwhelming. His house has transformed into a sanctuary of isolation, the only place where he feels he can begin to process the enormity of what has happened. His family can only watch from a distance, helpless against the invisible wounds he carries.

An Unspeakable Memory

When questioned about his specific memories from the day the incident occurred, a profound pain surfaced. He stated that he could not discuss the details. The memories are too raw, too destructive to be brought into the light. Flanked by his advisers, Radd Seiger and Sanjiv Patel, Mr Ramesh found it too agonising to revisit the precise sequence of events. The interview, held at Mr Patel’s Leicester home, was punctuated by moments where he broke down, overcome by the sheer weight of his trauma. The disaster remains a locked room in his mind, a place too terrifying to enter.

A Family’s Shared Anguish

Mr Ramesh articulated the profound and spreading distress that his family is now navigating. He described his life after the accident as exceptionally difficult. The mental toll has been immense, not just for him, but for his entire family. He shared the heart-breaking image of his mother, who for the past four months has spent every day sitting by the door in silence, enveloped in a quiet grief. His own withdrawal is a reflection of this wider family trauma. He does not wish to converse with anyone else. The suffering is a constant, shared burden, making every day a painful experience for all his relatives.

Physical Wounds and Lasting Pain

Beyond the psychological scars, Mr Ramesh is also contending with significant bodily harm he sustained. He managed to escape from his seat, 11A, through a large opening that was torn in the aircraft's body during the crash. This act of survival left its own brutal marks. He now suffers from persistent and debilitating pain in his leg, shoulder, back, and knee. These injuries have rendered him unable to resume working or driving following the incident. His mobility is severely limited. He explained that when he tries to walk, he cannot move properly and must do so very slowly, relying on his wife for physical support.

The Unseen Battle with PTSD

While undergoing treatment in an Indian hospital, Mr Ramesh was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. His advisers have stated, however, that since his return to the United Kingdom he has had no subsequent medical attention for this condition. They paint a picture of a man who is completely shattered and directionless. His journey towards any form of recovery will be incredibly long and difficult. This lack of ongoing mental health support is a significant point of concern for his team, who see him struggling to cope with the immense psychological burden of being the crash's only survivor.

A Plea to the Airline

His advisers are now pushing for a meeting with senior executives at Air India. They allege that the airline has treated Mr Ramesh very poorly in the months following the crash. They feel that the company has not adequately addressed his needs or acknowledged his unique and desperate situation. Sanjiv Patel described the family's current state as a threefold crisis, affecting them mentally, physically, and financially. He stated that the incident has utterly devastated the family. He believes that the highest-ranking responsible individuals ought to be present, engaging with those affected to understand their requirements.

An Offer Deemed Insufficient

Air India has made an initial payment as compensation to Mr Ramesh. The amount offered was £21,500, a sum which he has accepted. However, his advisers are firm in their assertion that this payment is not nearly adequate for his current necessities. The family is facing a complete financial collapse. The fishing business they operated in Diu, India, was a joint enterprise that Mr Ramesh and his brother managed together before the accident. His advisers confirmed that this business, the family's primary source of income, has now completely collapsed, adding a severe financial crisis to their emotional turmoil.

A Wall of Corporate Silence

Radd Seiger, acting as the family’s spokesman, detailed their frustrating attempts to engage with the airline directly. He confirmed that they had formally requested a meeting with Air India three separate times. According to Mr Seiger, all three of these requests were either completely ignored or explicitly turned down by the company. This refusal to engage in dialogue has forced the family's hand. He explained that the decision to conduct media interviews was their method for publicly restating their request for a fourth time, in a public forum where it could not be so easily dismissed.

 Image Credit - by Ministry of Home Affairs (GODL-India), GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons

The Media as a Last Resort

Mr Seiger expressed his profound disappointment at the situation. He called it appalling that the family was being forced to sit for interviews and put Mr Ramesh through the painful process of recounting his story publicly. He believes the individuals who ought to have been present were the senior executives from Air India. In his view, these are the people tasked with rectifying the situation for the crash victims. He issued a direct and public plea to the airline: come and sit down with the family so that they can collaboratively find ways to mitigate some of this hardship.

The Airline’s Formal Position

In a prepared statement, Air India, a part of the Tata Group, responded to the public appeal. The airline said that high-ranking executives from its parent company are continuing to visit the families of the victims to offer their profound sympathies. The statement also directly addressed the family's claims. It said that a proposal had, in fact, been extended to Mr Ramesh’s team to schedule such a discussion. The airline asserted that it will persist in its outreach efforts and very much hoped for a favourable reply. An airline official later clarified to the BBC that this proposal was on the table before the family’s media interviews took place.

The Official Investigation

The immediate focus after the accident fell on the search for answers. In July, an initial report concerning the accident was made public by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Its initial findings pointed towards a critical and sudden mechanical failure. The report stated that the flow of fuel to the engines was interrupted moments after the aircraft had lifted off from the runway. This finding provides a potential explanation for the catastrophic loss of power. However, a full and comprehensive investigation is still ongoing. The airline has stated that ensuring the welfare of Mr Ramesh and every family impacted by the incident is its highest priority.

The Victims of the Tragedy

The human cost of the disaster was staggering. Among the deceased were 169 Indian citizens and 52 individuals from Britain among the passengers and crew. Many of the British nationals were travelling to visit family and friends. The tragedy also extended beyond the aircraft itself. An additional 19 people lost their lives on the ground when the plane came down. The crash carved a path of destruction through a populated area near the airport, compounding the scale of the loss of life. The international nature of the passenger list meant that families from two different continents were united in a shared and sudden grief.

A Meeting with the Prime Minister

While recovering in an Indian hospital from his injuries, Mr Ramesh had a significant visitor. He met with Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, who came to offer his support and hear his account of the ordeal. During that time, Mr Ramesh was able to describe the terrifying moments of the crash. He recounted how he had successfully unbuckled his safety belt and exited the broken fuselage. This early account, given from his hospital bed, provided the first human perspective from inside the doomed flight, offering a glimpse into the chaos that unfolded.

 Image  Credit - by Prime Minister's Office (GODL-India), GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons

A Community in Shock

Reports about the incident sent shockwaves through the community in Leicester, where Mr Ramesh has made his home. Friends and neighbours reacted with disbelief, first at the news of the accident and then at the incredible story of his survival. The local community has rallied around the family, offering support and assistance where possible. However, the depth of the family's trauma is something that outsiders can only begin to comprehend. The story of the local man who survived an international air disaster has become a focal point for the community's grief and a stark reminder of the fragility of life.

The Challenge of Legal Recourse

Navigating the legal aftermath of an international aviation disaster is a complex and daunting process. Mr Ramesh, along with his relatives, will face a challenging path as they seek full and fair compensation for their immense losses. This will likely involve intricate legal battles spanning multiple jurisdictions, from India where the accident occurred, to the UK where he resides, and potentially the United States where Boeing aircraft are manufactured. His advisers are preparing for a protracted engagement with Air India's insurers and legal teams. Their primary goal is to secure a settlement that will provide for his lifelong care and his family's financial security.

Looking for Accountability

Beyond the financial considerations, the family is also desperate for accountability. They need to understand how this disaster could have happened. The ongoing investigation by Indian authorities is a critical part of this process. The family and their advisers are placing their faith in the investigators to conduct a thorough and transparent inquiry. They hope the final report will not only determine what led to the disaster but also lead to meaningful safety improvements across the aviation industry. For the victims' families, ensuring that no one else has to endure a similar tragedy is the most important objective of all. The final outcome of the investigation will be a crucial step in their long journey towards finding some form of closure.