Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of Air India Flight 171, which crashed seconds after takeoff on June 12, is having a very difficult time. According to an interview given to a local newspaper earlier in July by his nephew, the man is feeling “survivor’s guilt” and dreams about the crash every night. Moreover, the images of the dead people in front of him continue to torment him every time he closes his eyes.
Ramesh was seated in seat 11A and was the only survivor among the 242 occupants on the flight, which included his younger brother. Ramesh, a London resident, walked away from the crash on his own legs, with only minor cuts on his face and chest injuries.
The crash, which in total killed 260 people, 19 of them on the ground, is still under investigation. A preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed confusion in the cockpit between the two pilots of the flight directed to London Gatwick, with the co-pilot asking the pilot why he had cut off fuel to the engines. The engines were then refueled, but it was too late to regain altitude.
Locals have called Ramesh the “miracle man” and “God’s child” for being the only survivor. As miraculous as it seems, he is not the only person who has experienced such a fate. Indeed, while plane crashes are among the deadliest accidents in history, some people have been fortunate enough to walk away alive.
Click through this gallery to learn more about the amazing stories of airline accident survivors.