The wife of the sole survivor of the Air India crash gives an emotional update on his recovery and future, three months after the tragic disaster.
Wife Gives Emotional Update on Sole Air India Crash Survivor
Three months after the Air India Flight 171 disaster, the wife of the only surviving passenger has shared a devastating update on his health and future.
The crash, which took place on June 12 in Ahmedabad, killed 260 people, including crew, passengers, and people on the ground. Out of 230 passengers, only 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh from Leicester survived.
Survivor Still in Treatment
Ramesh, who was seated in seat 11A near the emergency exit, escaped the wreckage but suffered both physical and emotional trauma.
His wife, Hiral, revealed in an interview with The Times that he remains under medical supervision in India and continues to grieve the loss of his brother Ajay, who died in the crash.
She and their young son have since returned to the UK so the boy could begin school again. Although the child “understands,” Hiral admitted he deeply misses his father.
“I’m not sure when he’s coming back to the UK as his treatment is still ongoing. The hardest part is that he lost his brother. Everything happened in front of him.”
Fear of Flying Again
According to Ramesh’s brother-in-law, the survivor may never return to the UK because he is now too afraid to fly again.
“I think he will stay in India because he would be too frightened to get on a plane again,” he told the Daily Mail.
What Happened on Flight 171?
Preliminary investigations by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that fuel switches for the engines were mistakenly set to “cutoff” shortly after takeoff.
Despite efforts to restore power, the attempt failed, and the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just 32 seconds later into a hostel block of B.J. Medical College.
The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking why the fuel had been cut off, while the other denied doing so.
Both Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder perished in the crash, which remains under official investigation.
AAIB Chief GVG Yugandhar has urged the public not to spread rumors until the full report is completed, warning that speculation could damage the inquiry’s integrity.
Remembering the Tragedy
The June crash is one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years. Families of the victims, along with the sole survivor, continue to cope with unimaginable grief as investigators work to uncover the full truth behind Air India Flight 171.
