"Nothing will ever change what happened, but families deserve clarity.”
The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people has called for “honesty, transparency and answers”, a year on from the disaster.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, survived the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner after it struck a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025.
A total of 241 passengers and crew died, including 169 Indian nationals and 52 British citizens. Nineteen people on the ground were also killed, while a further 67 suffered serious injuries.
One year on, Ramesh said he continues to live with the emotional and psychological impact of the tragedy, which claimed the life of his brother.
Investigators have yet to publish their final findings into the cause of the crash.
In May 2026, India’s civil aviation minister said the investigation was in its “last stage” and that a report would “mostly” be completed by the anniversary of the disaster.
Thirty days after the crash, Indian authorities released a preliminary report in line with standard aviation procedures. It found that both fuel control switches had moved to the “cut-off” position immediately after take-off, cutting fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines.
Ramesh said: “I live with the significant psychological scars, the loss of my brother, and the constant unanswered questions around how and why this happened.
“I know those questions are not just on my mind; they are on the minds of every affected family.
“More than anything, people need honesty, transparency and answers. Nothing will ever change what happened, but families deserve clarity.”
Alongside dealing with trauma, Ramesh is also facing financial difficulties.
According to his representative, Sanjiv Patel, Air India has provided £21,500 to support Ramesh, his wife and their five-year-old son.
However, Patel said the family continues to struggle financially as Ramesh has been unable to return to work normally since the crash.
Patel said efforts had been made to engage directly with Air India’s leadership:
“We’ve repeatedly asked to meet the chief executive of Air India but that has not happened.
“We recently met with executives of Air India and representatives connected to the Tata Group [which has a controlling stake in the business].
“Those discussions were constructive and have resulted in some positive progress, although a number of important issues remain under discussion.”
He added that the family was currently living on less than £1,000 a month because of the lasting effects of the disaster.
Ramesh is also pursuing civil action as families continue to seek accountability and support.
Patel said: “Despite one of the worst aviation disasters involving British citizens in recent years, neither Vishwash nor many of the affected families we have spoken to have received any direct contact or tailored support from the UK government.”
An Air India spokesperson confirmed that representatives from the airline and the Tata Group had met with Ramesh and remained in regular contact.
The spokesperson said the company was “actively working to ensure that appropriate support continues to be extended to him” and remained in “close contact” with him and his team.
Legal action is also being explored by several affected families.
Paul McClorry, of Hudgell Solicitors, said potential claims were being considered against a number of parties while investigators completed their work.
He said: “We are awaiting the findings of the investigations, and we should finally start to see some clarity as to how and why this awful disaster happened, and, crucially, how it could have been avoided.”
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