Eight months after surviving one of aviation's most harrowing ordeals, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh continues to battle both physical injuries and psychological trauma from the Air India Express crash that claimed 21 lives.
The 34-year-old software engineer, who was travelling from Dubai to Kerala with his wife Ashwini Poojary when tragedy struck, remains the only person to have walked away from the devastating accident.
The Fateful Flight
On August 7, 2020, Flight IX-1344 overshot the runway during heavy rainfall at Kozhikode's Karipur Airport, plunging down a steep embankment and splitting in two. The Boeing 737 crash would become one of India's deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
"I remember the impact, the screams, and then darkness," Ramesh recalls, his voice heavy with emotion. "When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by wreckage and silence."
Physical and Emotional Scars
Despite surviving the initial impact, Ramesh's journey has been anything but easy. He suffered multiple spinal fractures, internal injuries, and continues to undergo extensive rehabilitation.
The psychological wounds run even deeper. "Every time it rains, every loud noise, it takes me back to that moment," he reveals. "I wake up screaming some nights, reliving the crash."
Survivor's Guilt and Recovery
Perhaps the most challenging aspect has been coping with survivor's guilt. Ramesh lost his wife in the crash, along with 20 other passengers and crew members.
"Why did I survive when so many others didn't? This question haunts me every day," he shares. "I'm learning to live with this burden, to find purpose in my survival."
Moving Forward
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Ramesh has shown remarkable resilience. He's returned to work part-time and is slowly rebuilding his life, though he acknowledges the journey ahead remains long.
"The physical pain will heal, but the emotional scars will always be there," he says. "But I'm determined to honour those we lost by living fully."
His story serves as a powerful reminder of both the fragility of life and the incredible strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
