‘We Need the Truth’: One Year After Air India Crash, Sole Survivor Speaks Out
A year after the Air India disaster that claimed 260 lives, the only survivor is demanding answers—and struggling to rebuild his life. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, lost his brother in the June 2025 crash, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner hit a medical college shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The flight, bound for London, killed 241 passengers and crew, along with 19 people on the ground. Another 67 were seriously injured.
Ramesh, who once called his survival a “miracle,” now describes living with “significant psychological scars” and ongoing financial hardship. Speaking to the Press Association, he said the trauma didn’t end on the day of the crash. “I live with the constant unanswered questions around how and why this happened,” he said. “Families deserve clarity. Nothing will change what happened, but we need honesty and transparency.”
Investigators have yet to release their final report. India’s civil aviation minister recently said it was in the “last stage” and would likely be finished by the anniversary. A preliminary report, issued 30 days after the crash, found both fuel switches had moved to the “cut-off” position immediately after takeoff, starving the engines.
Ramesh has received £21,500 from Air India to support his wife and five-year-old son, but his representative, Sanjiv Patel, says the family is living on less than £1,000 a month. Ramesh has been unable to return to work. Patel added that despite repeated requests, Ramesh has not been able to meet Air India’s chief executive. Recent talks with Tata Group executives, who control the airline, were “constructive,” but key issues remain unresolved.
Ramesh is also pursuing civil action. Patel criticized the UK government for not offering direct support to survivors’ families. Air India said it remains in close contact with Ramesh and is working to ensure he gets appropriate support. Lawyers are reviewing potential claims against multiple defendants, awaiting the investigative report for clarity on how the tragedy happened—and whether it could have been prevented.