“For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too … I still can’t believe how I survived,” Vishwash Kumar Ramesh said
One Survivor, 260 Lost: The Miracle Escape from the Air India Flight 171 Crash
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On 12 June 2025, Air India Flight 171—a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner—crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad, bound for London Gatwick. With 242 souls on board and casualties on the ground, the tragedy claimed 260 lives, leaving behind anguish and questions independent.co.uk+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1telegraphindia.com+8people.com+8ndtv.com+8.
🕊️ A Single Life Against All Odds
Nestled in seat 11A, next to an emergency exit, sat 40‑year‑old British‑Indian Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. In the chaotic seconds after engine failure and a sudden plunge, the plane struck a hostel at BJ Medical College. Amid fire and debris, the section around him detached and came to rest, creating a fleeting window of escape thetimes.co.uk+14en.wikipedia.org+14ndtv.com+14.
He later recounted:
“When I opened my eyes after the crash, for a few moments, I thought I would die too… I unbuckled my seat belt…and crawled out.” firstpost.com+14indianexpress.com+14thedailybeast.com+14
A graphic new video shows him staggering from the wreckage, phone in hand, smoke trailing behind, as stunned onlookers rushed to help gmanetwork.com+5indianexpress.com+5people.com+5.
💔 Physical Wounds and Emotional Scars
Ramesh suffered burns, broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and chest injuries—but endured far more than physical pain. The arrival of survivor’s guilt is tearing him inside. Back home in Diu and Leicester, memories weigh heavily as he grapples with the deaths of nearly 260 people, including his younger brother Ajay—who was on the same flight timesofindia.indiatimes.com+3people.com+3wsj.com+3.
He now battles insomnia and flashbacks, questioning why he lived when so many others didn’t:
“I still can’t believe how I survived… I saw people dying in front of my eyes.” timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1straitstimes.com+4independent.co.uk+4independent.co.uk+4
🙏 A Nation Breathes a Collective Prayer
His survival has unified a grieving nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him in hospital on 13 June, offering condolences and support as.com. The UK and Indian communities lit candles, prayed, and prayed for both his recovery and the healing of his spirit.
🔍 A Vital Source for the Investigation
As the only surviving passenger, Ramesh is now a pivotal figure for investigators from India’s AAIB, the U.S. NTSB, and the U.K. AAIB. His account could offer critical clues about what happened in those electrifying seconds before impact financialexpress.com+11ndtv.com+11independent.co.uk+11.
🌱 From Miraculous Escape to Trail of Healing
In the aftermath, Ramesh performed the last rites for his brother—a poignant testament to his strength and sorrow timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Now under protection from media and family oversight, he focuses on healing body and mind, supported by trauma counselors and loved ones .
