Although time has passed since the Air India flight 171 crash that killed 241 people, the disaster’s sole survivor tells ITV News’ Sangita Lal that the pain he feels is just as raw as the day it happened
The sole survivor of the Air India crash has told ITV News his life is “completely different” after the tragedy and his family has been left broken following the death of his brother.
Almost four months on from the crash, and as Vishwashkumar Ramesh limped into his seat for our interview, it was clear that although time has passed, his pain is as raw as the day it happened.
Vishwash is the sole survivor of Air India 171, which crashed 32 seconds after takeoff on June 12, 2025.
He had been in India helping his brother, Ajay, with their fishing business, and they were both on the same flight home.
During takeoff, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner lost altitude and crashed into the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad.
In total, 241 people on board died – 168 Indian nationals and 53 British people. On the ground, a further 19 people were killed and 67 were injured.
As smoke billowed out of the surrounding buildings, Vishwash, wearing one shoe and covered in blood, miraculously walked away and tried to phone his father back in Leicester.
Witnesses at the time said Vishwash tried to find his brother when he realised what had happened, but Ajay never made it off the plane.
As we started talking about that day, Vishwash kept talking about the loss of his brother and the life he and his family once lived.
Speaking of his life now, he said: “It’s completely different, after this tragedy – physically, mentally, I lost my younger brother. My whole family broke down, completely.
“In the last four months, I’m not talking with my friends, my family.”
Vishwash managed to escape the wreckage by crawling out through a gap near a broken emergency exit door. Social media clips at the time showed him walking down the street in the immediate aftermath.
Vishwash has a four-year-old son, whom he also said he does not talk too much.
“I’m just alone, living in my room, sitting on my bed.
“He likes to spend time with me, but I’m not giving time to him because mentally, I’m completely…” Vishwash isn’t able to finish the thought.
After meeting his family on the day of the crash, I have been regularly speaking with those closest to the family.
Throughout that time, we have discussed Vishwash’s health and when he might want to speak to the media about what happened.
Vishwash said he is not only suffering physically but also mentally, leaving him in a state of loneliness
Vishwash believes that the time is now, because he says he needs more support from Air India.
During our interview, Vishwash was sitting between his community leader and family adviser, Sanjiv Patel, and legal adviser, Radd Seiger, both there to help guide him through what he wanted to say.
I asked Vishwash how it felt when people called him a miracle. He responded: “It feels good, but at the same time, I lost my brother in the same flight.”
What became quickly clear was that Vishwash is still in pain. After answering some questions, he would often lean back in the chair to try and stretch his right knee, which he says still hurts him every day.
Vishwash said he still suffers from chronic pain in several parts of his body
He described how he often gets flashbacks, and when I asked him to describe them, he simply couldn’t answer what he sees or hears.
Asking him to describe what happened that day was clearly too painful, and what was more important for him was to share how his life has changed now and what he needs from Air India.
On his behalf, Radd urged the company to provide more support for Vishwash and called for “the leadership team” to sit and “listen to his suffering”.
“It isn’t difficult advice to give [to Air India]. Go and meet – not your junior people – the CEO, or the leadership team. Build an outreach programme.
“He’s the sole survivor. Sit with him for half an hour and listen to his suffering, and his family’s suffering and then you can deploy your resources accordingly.”
In a statement, Air India said it is “deeply conscious” of its “responsibility to provide Mr Ramesh with support through what must have been an unimaginable period”.
It continued: “Care for him – and indeed all families affected by the tragedy – remains our absolute priority.
“Senior leaders from across Tata Group continue to visit families to express their deepest condolences.
“An offer has been made to Mr Ramesh’s representatives to arrange such a meeting, we will continue to reach out and we very much hope to receive a positive response.
“We are keenly aware this continues to be an incredibly difficult time for all affected and continue to offer the support, compassion, and care we can in the circumstances.”
This is not, though, what the family want.
Mr Seiger explains: “It isn’t difficult advice to give [to Air India]. Go and meet – not your junior people – the CEO, or the leadership team.
“Build an outreach programme. He’s the sole survivor. Sit with him for half an hour and listen to his suffering, and his family’s suffering and then you can deploy your resources accordingly.”
Vishwash wants answers for his brother and the other 240 victims, and as time passes, there is little else that will bring him comfort.
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