For the world, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh became the face of hope after the Air India AI171 tragedy. He was the only passenger to survive the devastating plane crash that claimed 260 lives. Images of him walking away from the wreckage stunned people across the globe and many called it a miracle.
But a year after the tragedy, Vishwas says surviving the crash was only the beginning of a much longer and more painful journey.
Marking the first anniversary of the disaster, Vishwas shared that while the world saw a survivor, very few understood the emotional battles he continues to fight every day.
“People see that I’ve survived, but they don’t always see the challenges that continue behind closed doors. I still struggle with sleep, anxiety and difficult memories,” he said.
A Day That Changed Everything
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick carrying 242 passengers and crew members. Just 32 seconds after takeoff, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lost power and crashed into the B.J. Medical College campus.
The disaster killed 241 of the 242 people on board and another 19 people on the ground, making it one of India’s worst aviation tragedies.
Vishwas was the only passenger who survived. However, his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh, who was travelling with him, lost his life in the crash.
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The Pain Of Losing A Brother
Although Vishwas escaped with injuries, the emotional pain of losing his brother has remained his deepest wound.
In several interviews over the past year, he has spoken about waking up surrounded by wreckage and bodies before somehow finding the strength to run to safety.
“When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran,” he had recalled.
But after the cameras disappeared, he was left to deal with grief, trauma and the difficult reality of moving forward without his brother.
The Hidden Battle After Survival
Vishwas has revealed that life after the crash has been far from easy. Sleepless nights, anxiety and painful memories continue to haunt him.
According to those close to him, he has often withdrawn from public life and struggled to return to normal. The emotional scars, he says, have been much harder to heal than his physical injuries.
His experience also highlights the psychological impact that survivors of major disasters often face long after the headlines fade.
Financial Struggles Added To The Pain
The tragedy also brought unexpected financial difficulties for the family. Reports suggest that Vishwas and his late brother had invested much of their savings into a fishing business in India.
After the crash and Ajay’s death, those plans were left uncertain, adding another burden to an already heartbreaking situation.
The Investigation Continues
As India marks one year since the AI171 tragedy, investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the accident.
A preliminary report suggested that the fuel control switches of both engines moved from the “RUN” position to “CUTOFF” shortly after takeoff, cutting off the fuel supply to the aircraft. Investigators are continuing to examine whether the incident was caused by human action or a technical failure.
A status update on the investigation is expected soon, while the final report is still awaited.
A Story Of Survival And Loss
For many people, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh will always be remembered as the miracle survivor of AI171. But behind that extraordinary story is a man still trying to cope with unimaginable loss.
One year later, he carries not only the memory of the crash but also the grief of losing his brother and the emotional weight of being the only one who made it out alive.
His words serve as a reminder that surviving a tragedy does not always mean the suffering ends. Sometimes, the hardest battle begins after the world has moved on.
