The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 241 people says he still lives with "psychological scars" a year on from the fireball horror. Miracle man Vishwash Ramesh walked away from the Ahmedabad disaster, which happened 33 seconds after take-off.
Loss of brother and unanswered questions
But his brother Ajay and 51 other Brits were among those who died when the Gatwick-bound flight plunged from the sky when the engine cut out on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Speaking ahead of the one-year anniversary of the disaster, Vishwash said: "What many people perhaps don’t fully appreciate is that the trauma didn’t end on the day of the disaster. I live with the significant psychological scars, the loss of my brother, and the constant unanswered questions around how and why this happened. I know those questions are not just on my mind — they are on the minds of every affected family."
He added: "More than anything, people need honesty, transparency and answers. Nothing will ever change what happened, but families deserve clarity."
Investigation progress
Investigators have yet to publish their final findings into the cause of the crash. An interim report last July revealed the fuel switches had been turned off on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner just moments after take-off, turning the spotlight onto the two pilots.
Vishwash, of Leicester, met with Air Accident Investigators in Ahmedabad in March, his representative Sanjiv Patel said. He has received £21,500 from Air India to support his wife and five-year-old son – an interim payment provided to all families who lost loved ones in the disaster.
Financial and psychological struggles
Mr Patel said: "He continues to struggle physically, psychologically and financially. We’ve repeatedly asked to meet the chief executive of Air India but that has not happened. We recently met with executives of Air India and representatives connected to the Tata Group. Those discussions were constructive and have resulted in some positive progress, although a number of important issues remain under discussion."
"The reality is that Viswash and his family continue to face significant financial hardship. Due to the physical and psychological impact of the crash he has been unable to return to work and support his family in the way he once did, leaving them currently living on less than £1,000 per month. They’re not alone. Despite one of the worst aviation disasters involving British citizens in recent years, neither Viswash nor many of the affected families we have spoken to have received any direct contact or tailored support from the UK Government."
Civil action and legal steps
Vishwash is taking civil action following the crash, with his solicitors saying: "We will be examining every detail of the air accident investigations and expecting all parties involved to act appropriately to any findings of fault, failure or negligence."
Solicitor Paul McClorry from Hudgell Solicitors said civil claims are being considered against a number of potential defendants. He said in a statement: "We’ve had significant dialogue with the legal representatives for Air India and they have been very cooperative in recent times, providing some initial funding for much needed physical and psychological rehabilitation support. We are awaiting the findings of the investigations, and we should finally start to see some clarity as to how and why this awful disaster happened, and, crucially, how it could have been avoided. Lessons clearly must be learnt, and for that to happen there needs to be complete transparency and a willingness to accept responsibility."
Other victims' families speak out
It comes after heartbroken Pragna Devji wept as she spoke of the pain of losing her mum and dad. She told BBC Breakfast: "My mum called me every day, after this accident, I just wait for my mum's call."
Air India response
A spokesperson for Air India said: "Air India remains committed to supporting every individual impacted by the AI171 tragedy with care and compassion. While we cannot discuss the specifics of any individual case, representatives from Air India and the Tata Group met with Mr Ramesh and had a constructive and meaningful engagement. The discussions provided insight into Mr Ramesh’s needs and concerns, enabling a clearer understanding of how best to support him. We remain in close contact with Mr Ramesh and his representatives and are actively working to ensure that appropriate support continues to be extended to him."
