The recent Air India plane crash has left the entire nation grieving, with 279 lives lost in the tragic accident. Amidst this devastating event, one man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, emerged as the sole survivor. As the only person among 242 passengers on board to escape death, his survival has been nothing short of a miracle. However, even his miraculous escape is overshadowed by the immense grief of losing his elder brother, Ajay, who was also on the ill-fated flight.
The Sole Survivor: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, aged 40, was travelling back to London from Diu after visiting family, accompanied by his 45-year-old brother Ajay. Seated in seat 11A—next to the emergency exit—Vishwash was the only one able to survive when the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The plane crashed into a nearby doctor’s hostel at B.J. Medical College, erupting in flames and killing nearly all on board, along with several locals and students.
Miraculously, the fuselage near seat 11A remained largely intact. Vishwash recalled flickering lights, loud noises, and a jolt before the plane struck the building. The emergency exit near his seat was dislodged, creating an escape path. Crawling out from the wreckage, a dazed and injured Vishwash was captured on video as he walked away from the crash site. People have since called him “God’s favourite.”
The Heartbreaking Funeral of Ajay Kumar
On June 18, 2025, Vishwash performed the last rites of his brother, Ajay. Videos from the funeral show an emotionally shattered Vishwash breaking down while performing the rituals. In one particularly heart-wrenching clip, he is seen carrying his brother’s mortal remains on his shoulder to the cremation ground. Another video shows someone holding him as he weeps inconsolably. The entire ceremony was a picture of grief, resilience, and the painful reality of survival.
Ajay’s body, like those of the other victims, was handed over to the family after a proper DNA identification process. The tragedy has touched countless hearts across India and the Indian diaspora worldwide.
Who Is Vishwash Kumar Ramesh?
An Indian-origin British citizen, Vishwash works in the UK and was heading back to resume work. He was admitted to a hospital immediately after the crash and was visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After six days of treatment, he was discharged and returned to Diu to mourn the loss of his brother. In many ways, Vishwash represents the fragile boundary between life and death—one that he barely crossed.
A Miraculous Coincidence: Seat 11A’s History
The tale of seat 11A gained even more mystique after Thai singer and actor, Ruangsak James Loychusak, posted on social media that he had survived a plane crash 26 years ago while sitting in the exact same seat. That crash took 101 lives and had only 45 survivors, among whom Ruangsak was one. He claimed that he too was seated in 11A, making this an eerie and almost spiritual coincidence.
Conclusion
The Air India AI-171 crash has become a symbol of collective mourning for a nation. While stories of death and destruction dominate the headlines, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh’s tale offers a rare, albeit painful, glimpse into survival, loss, and the inexplicable forces of fate. As he lit the funeral pyre of his brother, millions watched with tears in their eyes, realizing how precious and unpredictable life truly is.
Let us all pray for those who lost their lives and for the families who now must learn to live without their loved ones.