Ramesh, himself a survivor of the Air India plane crash, shares suffering from ‘psychic scars’ that haunt him a year after the tragedy | Today’s news
The tragic Air India plane crash has left “significant psychological scars” for Viswashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of London-bound Flight 171. Ramesh had a close shave with his life after the Air India plane crashed moments after take-off. His brother and 260 others lost their lives in the tragic accident. His extraordinary presence of mind saved his life in a crisis, but left a void that cannot be filled.
On 12 June 2025, the passenger flight fell some distance from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, from where it had taken off. A year on from the tragedy, Leicester resident Ramesh deeply regrets the loss of his sibling despite the “miracle” of his own survival and told the BBC that the crash “took away all my happiness”. Due to the trauma, he was unable to return to work.
“Trauma didn’t end on the day of the disaster,” says Ramesh
Remembering one of the deadliest air disasters on its anniversary, Ramesh said: “Many people may not fully realize that the trauma did not end on the day of the disaster,” the BBC reported. He shared the pain of the loss and suffering, adding: “I live with significant psychological scars, the loss of my brother and the constant unanswered questions of how and why this happened.”
Seeking honesty, transparency and answers, he noted, “I know these questions aren’t just on my mind — they’re on the minds of every affected family.” Preliminary results revealed that the plane’s fuel switches moved to the “off” position “immediately” after takeoff, stopping the fuel supply to the engine, but final conclusions about the reasons for the crash are yet to be released.
Air India will compensate the families of the victims
The families of all the victims of the plane crash, including Ramesh, received interim compensation of £21,500 from Air India. The lone survivor, who lives with his wife and five-year-old son, continues to struggle “physically, mentally and financially,” said Ramesh’s representative, Sanjiv Patel.
“They are not alone. Despite one of the worst air disasters involving British citizens in recent years, neither Viswash nor many of the affected families we spoke to have received any direct contact or tailored support from the UK government,” the BBC quoted Sanjiv Patel as saying.
According to the PA news agency, Ramesh has gone through the legal process and is ready for a civil suit with his legal team, who said: “We will examine every detail of the plane crash investigation.” The report further states that civil claims were being considered against a number of potential defendants.
Paul McClorry of Hudgell Solicitors said in a statement that there had been “significant dialogue” between the law firm and Air India’s lawyers, who had been “very cooperative”. He indicated that there should be full transparency and a willingness to accept responsibility, adding: “We await the results of the investigation and should finally begin to see how and why this terrible disaster happened and, most importantly, how it could have been prevented.”
