Sole survivor of Air India crash describes severe trauma months after disaster

Viswashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India Flight 171 crash that killed 241 people in June, has revealed the severe physical and mental toll the disaster has taken, stating that the trauma has "broken" him.

Mr. Ramesh, a British resident of Leicester, escaped the wreckage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after it crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on June 12. The 39-year-old was the only person who walked away from the incident, which resulted in the deaths of all 241 other people aboard.

The crash occurred when the flight, destined for London, struck a building shortly after departing Ahmedabad. Extraordinary video footage shared at the time showed Mr. Ramesh walking away from the burning wreckage.

Mr. Ramesh was seated in the now-fabled seat 11A, located next to an emergency door, which allowed him to climb out of the aircraft. He acknowledged that his survival was a "miracle" and that he felt like "the most fortunate man in the world."

However, the emotional cost has been devastating. Mr. Ramesh lost his younger brother, Ajaykumar, who was seated just a few rows away on the plane and could not escape. Since returning home to England, Mr. Ramesh has struggled profoundly with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to his advisors.

He confessed that he prefers to be alone, avoiding the company of his family, and has been unable to communicate effectively with his wife and four-year-old son. He described his current existence as one where "every day is a suffering."

"I spend the nights thinking, suffering mentally," Mr. Ramesh said, noting that the experience has completely "overturned" his life. Beyond the mental anguish, he also reported physical injuries that have prevented him from returning to work.

In recent interviews, Mr. Ramesh attempted to recount the events of June 12, but often faltered, stumbled, and lapsed into long silences. He stated that he wanted to share his story publicly in an attempt to regain control of his life and to pressure Air India regarding the aftermath of the disaster. The flames had engulfed the Boeing 787 shortly after the crash.