Air India plane crash survivor: ‘I am the luckiest man alive’

The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 241 people on board said he feels like the ‘luckiest person’ alive but is also suffering physically and mentally.

Viswashkumar Ramesh walked out of the wreckage of his London-bound flight in Ahmedabad in special scenes that shocked the world.

He said his escape was a ‘miracle’ but told how he lost everything because his younger brother Ajay was a few seats away from the plane and died in the crash in June.

Back home in Leicester, Mr Ramesh suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is unable to communicate with his wife and four-year-old son, advisers said.

A Boeing 787 crashed shortly after takeoff in western India and burst into flames.

Shocking footage released at the time showed Mr Ramesh walking away from the aftermath with superficial injuries, with smoke rising from behind him.

“I’m only one survivor, but I can’t believe it. It’s a miracle,” Ramesh, whose native language is Gujarati, told BBC News.

“I lost my brother too. He is my backbone. He has always supported me over the years.”

He described the devastating impact the ordeal had on his family life.

“Now I am alone. I sit alone in my room without even talking to my wife or son,” said Ramesh.

He described how he unbuckled himself from his then-hospital bed in India and crawled out of the rubble, and met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while being treated for his injuries.

Of the passengers and crew who died, 169 were Indian, 52 were British and 19 others died on the ground.

A preliminary report on the crash released by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of India in July said fuel supply to the engine was cut off just seconds after takeoff. Meanwhile, the airline said its investigation was ongoing and that caring for Mr Ramesh and all the families affected by the tragedy was “our top priority”.

This is the first time the 39-year-old has spoken to the media since returning to the UK. A documentary crew was also filming in that room.

The BBC held detailed discussions with his advisers about his duty of care ahead of the interview.

When asked what he remembered from the day of the accident, he said, “I can’t say anything about it now.”

Mr Ramesh, joined by community leader Sanjiv Patel and spokesman Radd Seiger, said it was too painful to remember the catastrophic events and broke down during an interview at Mr Patel’s home in Leicester.

Mr. Ramesh described the pain he and his family are currently going through.

“For me, after this accident… it was very difficult.

“Physically, mentally, my family, mentally… My mom has been sitting outside the door every day for the last four months, not saying a word.

“I don’t talk to anyone else. I don’t like talking to anyone else.

“I can’t say much. I think about it all night and it’s mentally distressing.

“Every day is painful for the whole family.”

Mr. Ramesh also spoke about the physical injuries he suffered as a result of the crash, in which he ejected from seat (11A) through a hole in the fuselage.

He said he was experiencing pain in his legs, shoulders, knees and back and was unable to work or drive after the tragedy.

He added, “I can’t walk properly, so my wife helps me slowly.”

Mr Ramesh was diagnosed with PTSD while receiving treatment in an Indian hospital, but has not received any treatment since returning home, his advisers said.

They describe him as lost, broken and have a long road to recovery ahead of him and are demanding a meeting with Air India management, alleging he has been treated poorly by the airline since the accident.

“They are in crisis mentally, physically and financially,” Mr Patel said.

“It devastated his family.

“Whoever has the highest level of responsibility must meet the victims of this tragic event on the ground, understand their needs and listen to their views.”

Air India offered Ramesh an interim compensation of ₹21,500, which was accepted, but his advisers say this is not enough to meet his immediate needs.

The family fishing business in Diu, India, which Mr Ramesh ran with his brother before the accident, has since collapsed, his advisers said.

A spokesperson for the Seiger family said Air India had been invited to meetings on three occasions but had been “ignored or declined” on all three occasions.

Media interviews were the team’s way of rediscovering its charm for the fourth time, he said.

“It’s appalling that we’re sitting here today and having him (Viswashkumar) do this,” Seiger said.

“The people who should be sitting here today are the executives of Air India who are responsible for trying to put things right.

“Please come and sit with us so we can work together to alleviate this suffering.”

The Tata Group-owned airline said in a statement that senior executives from the parent company will continue to visit the family and express their deepest condolences.

“A proposal has been made to Mr. Ramesh’s representatives to arrange such a meeting. We will keep in touch and are very hopeful of receiving a positive response,” he said.

The airline told the BBC that the offer was made before the media interview with Mr Ramesh.