Sad update on seat 11A passenger who survived Air India crash and 'remembers seeing everyone die'
The sole survivor of the Air India crash that killed over 200 people last month has spoken out.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh and his brother, Ajay, had been two of the flyers on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that collided with a doctors' hostel on 12 June following its take-off from Ahmedabad in Western India.
The plane had been heading to Gatwick Airport in London, but plummeted into the residential area not long after leaving the ground. A mayday call had been made to air traffic control officers by the aircraft's pilots following initial take-off.
Despite local police initially saying there would likely be 'no survivors' of the crash, it later emerged that only Ramesh, who'd been sitting in seat 11A, had made it out alive.
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Since then, the British national has remained in India, choosing to recuperate in Bucharwada village in Diu, on the coast of the western state of Gujarat.
Providing an update on his wellbeing, several of Ramesh's loved ones revealed everything he could recall about the incident.
His 24-year-old 'nephew' Krunal Keshave told The Sunday Times: "He can’t sleep at night. He sleeps but doesn’t sleep properly.
"When he sleeps, he dreams he is on the flight. He remembers seeing everyone die in front of his eyes."
He continued: "He speaks but he doesn’t speak about the crash. His wife and his son [who is four] are there with him, supporting him.
"He is currently trying to have a normal life, but he is not going out too much. He is spending time at home with the family. He was living in the house in Diu with his brother before the crash."
The majority of Ramesh's family remain at home in Leicester. He and his brother, Ajay, previously ran a fishing business, for which they spent the season in India between September and May.
They'd return to the UK for the off-season, which is why they'd booked onto the Air India flight.
Despite being hailed as a 'miracle man', Ramesh reportedly feels far from blessed, and 'sees' his deceased brother 'everywhere'.
Another unnamed relative told the publication: "He feels guilty that he is the only one to have lived when everybody else, including his brother, died. It’s a lot to live with."
Earlier this month, a preliminary report undertaken by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) suggested confusion between the two pilots in charge of the aircraft.
It said: "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so."
A number of the victims' families are now taking legal action against the travel firm in High Court.
Air India previously wrote on X: "Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.
"We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025.
"Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.
"Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB."
Ramesh spoke previously to Hindustan Times of his escape, telling the outlet: "It all happened so quickly."
He claimed he'd heard a 'loud noise' around 30 seconds after the jet lifted off the ground, adding: "When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran.
"There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital."
Ramesh also told The Sun of his brother's passing: "If we had been sat together we both might have survived.
"I tried to get two seats together but someone had already got one. Me and Ajay would have been sitting together.
"But I lost my brother in front of my eyes. So now I am constantly thinking ‘Why can't I save my brother?’"
He continued: "It’s a miracle I survived. I am okay physically, but I feel terrible that I could not save Ajay."
Topics: Air India, News, World News, UK News, US News
Rhianna Benson