Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the miracle sole survivor of the Air India crash, has called for "honesty, transparency and answers" a year on from the disaster. The British national managed to crawl out of the wreckage after the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner smashed into a medical college building shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12 last year. His brother, along with 259 others, died in the crash.
A Year of Unanswered Questions
Days ahead of the one-year anniversary, Ramesh released a statement expressing his ongoing struggle. "I live with the significant psychological scars, the loss of my brother, and the constant unanswered questions around how and why this happened," he said. "I know those questions are not just on my mind - they are on the minds of every affected family. More than anything, people need honesty, transparency and answers. Nothing will ever change what happened, but families deserve clarity."
Investigation Still Ongoing
Investigators have yet to publish their final findings into the cause of the crash, which occurred less than a minute after takeoff. A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that both of the plane's fuel switches were moved to the "cut-off" position "immediately" after takeoff, stopping fuel supply to the engine.
Financial Hardship and Legal Action
Ramesh met with air accident investigators in Ahmedabad in March. To date, he has received £21,500 from Air India to support his wife and five-year-old son. His representative, Sanjiv Patel, highlighted the family's ongoing difficulties. "He continues to struggle physically, psychologically and financially," Patel said. "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 crash's physical and psychological impact, Ramesh has been unable to return to work, leaving his family living on less than £1,000 per month. Patel added, "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 Underway
Ramesh is pursuing civil action following the crash. His solicitors stated, "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." Paul McClorry of Hudgell Solicitors said civil claims are being considered against several potential defendants. "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," he said. "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."
Air India's Response
The Foreign Office was approached for comment. 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."
