Sole Air India Crash Survivor Haunted by Nightmares – Family

The only survivor of last month’s tragic Air India plane crash is struggling with intense survivor’s guilt and haunting nightmares, according to his family.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 38, miraculously escaped with minor injuries when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical centre accommodation block in Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on June 12. The London Gatwick-bound flight killed all 241 passengers — including 52 British nationals — and 19 people on the ground.

Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, suffered facial cuts and chest injuries but is now battling psychological trauma. His nephew, Krunal Keshave, 24, told reporters that Ramesh is unable to sleep properly, plagued by dreams of the crash and visions of the people who died, including his younger brother, Ajay, 35.

“He sleeps, but it’s not peaceful. He dreams of being back on the flight and watches everyone die again. He sees his brother everywhere,” said Keshave, who described Ramesh as deeply affected and withdrawn since the incident.

Ramesh has returned to India to recover privately with his wife and four-year-old son. Locals have dubbed him “the man who cannot be killed,” but family members say he speaks little of the crash and rarely leaves home.

“He’s trying to return to normal life, but he’s not the same. He feels guilty for surviving when others, including his brother, didn’t,” another relative shared.

Ramesh and his brother had been in India visiting family and managing a fishing business when they booked their seats on the ill-fated flight just one week before the disaster.

A preliminary 15-page report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau suggests cockpit confusion may have led to the crash. It cites a possible miscommunication between pilot Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, and co-pilot Clive Kunder, 32, involving fuel cut-off switches.

Investigators believe Sabharwal may have unintentionally cut fuel to the engines shortly after take-off. Legal action is underway by more than 20 victims’ families, demanding Air India release the pilots’ occupational and medical records, along with maintenance logs related to the aircraft’s throttle control module, which had been replaced twice before the crash.

Air India says it is cooperating fully with investigators and “stands in solidarity with the families and all those affected.”