Viswashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the devastating Air India plane crash that claimed 241 lives, says he is still suffering both physically and mentally.
Speaking to media outlets including the BBC, Ramesh described himself as the “luckiest man alive,” but said that the experience has left him deeply scarred. His advisers confirmed that he is struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has found it difficult to reconnect with his wife and four-year-old son since returning to his home in Leicester.
Ramesh also lost his brother, Ajay, in the tragedy. The two had run a family fishing business together in Diu, India — a business that has since collapsed.
“I’m the only one who survived. I still can’t believe it. It’s a miracle,” Ramesh told BBC News in an emotional interview conducted in his native Gujarati. “I lost my brother as well. My brother was my backbone. For the past few years, he was always supporting me.”
He went on to describe the devastating impact the crash has had on his personal life.
“Now I’m alone. I just sit in my room, not talking to my wife or my son. I prefer to be alone,” he said. “Physically, mentally, it’s very difficult — for me and my family. My mother hasn’t spoken for months. Every day is painful for all of us.”
Ramesh suffered several physical injuries during the crash but miraculously managed to escape through a gap in the fuselage from seat 11A.
Air India has made an interim compensation payment of £21,500, which Ramesh has accepted. However, his advisers say this amount is insufficient to meet his immediate medical and personal needs.
Family spokesman Jonathan Seiger said they have invited Air India to meet with them on three separate occasions — all of which were either “ignored or declined.” The media interviews, he explained, were an attempt to renew that appeal.
“It’s appalling that we have to sit here today putting Viswashkumar through this,” Seiger said. “The people who should be here are Air India’s executives — the ones responsible for putting things right. We urge them to sit down with us to find a way to ease some of this suffering.”
In response, Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group, said that senior leaders from the parent company have been visiting families of victims to offer their condolences.
“An offer has been made to Mr. Ramesh’s representatives to arrange such a meeting,” the airline said in a statement. “We will continue to reach out and hope to receive a positive response.”
The airline told the BBC that this offer had been extended before Ramesh’s media appearances.
