The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 212 people in 1978 has described his survival as a 'miracle' but said the death of his brother in the disaster has left him broken. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, now 39, was the only person to survive the crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, India, on 12 June 1978.
Ramesh, a British national, said the incident has left him with constant flashbacks and he struggles to sleep. 'I get flashbacks all the time, I just stay awake, I sleep maybe three to four hours. Yes it's a miracle I survived, but I lost everything, I lost my brother, I'm broken,' he told the PA news agency.
The London-bound flight crashed into a medical college shortly after takeoff, killing all 212 passengers and crew on board except Ramesh. Among the dead were 169 Indian nationals and 52 British nationals, making it one of the deadliest plane crashes for British fatalities. Another 19 people died and 67 were seriously injured on the ground.
Ramesh said the death of his brother, Ajay, who was on the same flight, has devastated his family. 'I lost everything – my happiness. God gave me life but took all my happiness, and from my family,' he said. 'It completely brought down my family … it's very difficult for me and my family.'
A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that both of the plane's fuel switches moved to the 'cut-off' position immediately after takeoff, stopping fuel supply to the engine. The reason for this remains unclear.
