The Unbroken: 5 Air India Crash Survivors Whose Stories Of Miracle And Trauma Will Haunt You

The sheer impossibility of survival in a catastrophic plane crash transforms a passenger into a symbol of a miracle. As of December 18, 2025, the stories of those who walked away from the wreckage of major Air India disasters—like the 2010 Mangalore crash and the 2020 Kozhikode tragedy—continue to resonate, offering a raw, unfiltered look into the human spirit's resilience and its profound, long-term trauma.

These aren't just tales of luck; they are chronicles of a life forever cleaved into "before" and "after." The survivors, from the handful who escaped the fiery wreckage of Flight 812 to the sole survivor of a later, devastating incident, carry an invisible burden: the weight of memory, survivor’s guilt, and the relentless battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Their current lives are a testament to the fact that surviving is only the first chapter.

The Sole Survivor: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (Air India Flight 171)

The narrative of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh is one of the most compelling and tragic in recent aviation history, as he is widely reported as the lone passenger to survive a devastating Air India crash that claimed 241 lives. This incident, often referred to as Air India Flight 171, occurred in Ahmedabad, though details surrounding the exact date and circumstances remain complex and highly sensationalized in media reports.

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• Name: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
• Nationality: British National
• Age (approx. at time of reporting): 40 years old
• Incident: Air India Flight 171 (Ahmedabad)
• Circumstances: Sole surviving passenger of a crash reported to have killed 241 people. He was seated in an exit row, specifically seat 11A, which aviation experts believe contributed to his miraculous escape. He was traveling back to the UK with his brother, who tragically perished.
• Current Status: Battles severe physical and mental trauma, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and survivor's guilt. He has publicly appealed for welfare support, stating that his life is "completely different" and his family has been left "broken" by the tragedy.

Ramesh’s survival, which he calls a "miracle," is overshadowed by the profound emotional pain of losing his brother and the constant struggle to cope with the memories of the fireball crash. He embodies the complex psychological challenges unique to a sole survivor of a mass casualty event.

The Mangalore Miracle: Survivors of Air India Express Flight 812 (2010)

On May 22, 2010, Air India Express Flight IX-812 from Dubai overshot the tabletop runway at Mangalore (Mangaluru) airport, plunging into a valley and bursting into flames. Of the 166 people on board, 158 were killed. Only eight passengers survived this horrific accident. Their stories, 15 years later, are a stark reminder of the long-term emotional scars.

1. Joel Pratap D’Souza: The Man in the Middle

Joel Pratap D’Souza was seated in the middle seat of row 23. His position, combined with the way the Boeing 737 aircraft broke apart, allowed him to escape. He described walking out of the broken plane, an image that remains seared into the national consciousness.

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• Survival Detail: Joel was an expatriate returning to India. The force of the impact and the subsequent fire changed his life and career path.
• Long-Term Impact: Even after 15 years, Joel admits the fear and trauma still linger. The experience completely altered his perspective on life and travel, a common thread among aviation disaster survivors.

2. Sabrina Nasrin Haq: Escaping the Fireball

Sabrina Nasrin Haq, then 23, was another of the eight miraculous survivors. Her account focused on the immediate aftermath: the sight of flames and the desperate need to get out of the wreck.

• Survival Detail: She managed to extricate herself from the wreckage before the fire intensified, a critical factor in the survival of all eight individuals.
• Emotional Entity: Her memory of the flames highlights the terrifying speed at which the disaster unfolded, giving survivors only seconds to react to the catastrophic event.

The Kozhikode Catastrophe: Survivors of Air India Express Flight 1344 (2020)

On August 7, 2020, Air India Express Flight IX-1344 from Dubai overshot the runway at Calicut International Airport in Kozhikode (Karipur), Kerala, splitting into two upon impact. While 18 people, including both pilots, tragically died, a remarkable 165 passengers survived the crash. The high number of survivors is often attributed to the fuselage remaining largely intact and the swift, heroic response of local villagers and emergency services.

3. The Collective Trauma of Karipur

Unlike the Mangalore crash, which had a handful of survivors, the Kozhikode incident resulted in a large group of survivors who shared a collective experience of trauma. Many were Vande Bharat Mission repatriates returning from the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Survival Detail: Many survivors were pulled from the wreckage by local residents who rushed to the scene immediately after the crash, before official rescue teams arrived. This community response was crucial in saving lives.
• Long-Term Impact: A year after the crash, the 165 survivors and their families were still battling trauma and loss. The psychological aftermath, including anxiety and fear of flying, remains a significant challenge for the large group of individuals who lived through the event.

The Invisible Scars: Understanding the Survivor's Journey

The journey for an Air India crash survivor does not end when they leave the hospital. It is a lifelong battle against the invisible wounds of a mass casualty event. The psychological toll is immense, and it includes several key entities that define their post-crash life.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a near-universal diagnosis for plane crash survivors. It manifests as flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. For Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, the ongoing battle with PTSD is a daily struggle that has led him to seek welfare support. The horrific memories of the crash and the loss of loved ones are constantly replayed in their minds.

Survivor's Guilt

This is a profound psychological entity where a survivor feels guilt for having lived while others, particularly family members or friends, perished. Ramesh, who lost his brother, explicitly stated that his brother's death "wiped out my joy" despite his miraculous survival. This guilt can be debilitating, leading to depression and a sense of unworthiness.

The Challenge of Reintegration

For survivors like Joel D’Souza, the crash changed their career paths and their entire outlook on life. Reintegrating into normal life, facing the public eye, and dealing with the constant media attention adds another layer of stress. The need for long-term mental health support, including therapy and support groups, is critical but often overlooked in the immediate aftermath of compensation and physical recovery.

The stories of the Air India crash survivors—from the eight in Mangalore to the many in Kozhikode and the lone figure of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh—are powerful reminders of human fragility and the enduring strength required to live through a trauma of this magnitude. Their ongoing struggles highlight the urgent need for comprehensive, long-term psychological and financial support for all victims of aviation disasters.