Ahmedabad Crash Survivor Faces Guilt and Haunting Nightmares

Rapid Summary

• Air India Flight AI171, a boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12 in Ahmedabad.
• The crash caused the deaths of all but one passenger-40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh-and killed 19 people on the ground.
• Vishwash sustained minor physical injuries while his brother Ajay did not survive. He is struggling with psychological distress and grief.
• The Aircraft Accident Examination Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report cited cockpit confusion as a contributing factor, revealing both engines were starved of fuel due to fuel control switches being turned off during a dispute between the captain and co-pilot.
• A final investigative report will follow international protocols and is expected within a year.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 raises serious concerns about cockpit procedures and operational safety in aviation.The AAIB’s findings indicate human error contributed to this disaster, underscoring the need for stricter protocols to prevent miscommunication during critical flight moments like takeoff. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh’s survival story also highlights the immense psychological toll accidents impose on survivors even when physically unharmed-a dimension that deserves greater attention in post-crisis care frameworks in India.with hundreds of lives affected directly or indirectly, this incident serves as an urgent reminder for regulatory bodies to reaffirm safety standards across Indian aviation while maintaining transparency throughout investigations.

Read More