The only survivor of Air India Flight 171, Viswash Kumar Ramesh, has returned to England five months after the June 13 crash that killed 260 people. He is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, physical injuries and is largely isolating from his family. Ramesh’s lawyers say Air India’s interim compensation offer was under $30,000; the airline says providing support is a priority. A preliminary investigation found that fuel cutoff switches on both engines were switched within one second, causing loss of thrust.
Sole Survivor of Air India Flight 171 Returns Home — Haunted by PTSD and Seeking Answers
The only survivor of Air India Flight 171, Viswash Kumar Ramesh, has returned to England five months after the June 13 crash that killed 260 people. He is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, physical injuries and is largely isolating from his family. Ramesh’s lawyers say Air India’s interim compensation offer was under $30,000; the airline says providing support is a priority. A preliminary investigation found that fuel cutoff switches on both engines were switched within one second, causing loss of thrust.
16:54, 04.11.2025Society
Sole survivor returns to England after devastating Air India crash
Viswash Kumar Ramesh, the only person to survive the June 13 crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, has returned to his home in England five months after the disaster. The crash, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, killed 260 people in total — including 19 people on the ground — and all but one person who had been on board.
Ramesh’s condition and personal loss
Ramesh, a U.K. national who speaks Gujarati, was photographed limping away from the smoldering wreckage with blood on his shirt and his phone in hand. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and continues to recover from physical injuries. His younger brother, Ajay, was among those killed on the aircraft.
“It is a miracle, isn’t it. Still, I am not believing, I am only one survivor,”
Ramesh told BBC News. He added: “I’m the luckiest man, but also, I lost everything. My brother… I lost my brother.”
Ramesh has said he is largely isolating himself and struggling to speak with his wife and son. “It is very painful for me to explain what happened,” he told reporters. “Now I’m alone. I just sit in my room alone, not talking with my wife, my son. I just like to be alone in my house.”
Investigation and airline response
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released a preliminary report in July indicating that cockpit cutoff switches for the fuel supply to both engines were switched, one after the other, within one second — a sequence that led to loss of thrust in both engines. Investigations remain ongoing to determine the full chain of events and any contributing factors.
Air India has said supporting victims and families is its “absolute priority.” The airline’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, said teams were working around the clock in the immediate aftermath to assist families and investigators. Ramesh’s legal team, however, asserts that the airline has not provided adequate support or compensation; they say the carrier’s interim offer was under $30,000.
What comes next
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash and the adequacy of the airline’s response. Meanwhile, Ramesh’s case highlights the long-term human toll of major accidents: survivors can face lasting psychological and physical effects, and families often press for more comprehensive support and clearer answers.
Note: Numbers reported in early coverage varied; the most commonly cited toll is 260 deaths in total, which includes 19 fatalities on the ground and 241 people who died from among those on the aircraft.