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5 Enduring Battles Of Air India Crash Survivors: Trauma, Compensation, And The Fight For Justice

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As of December 23, 2025, the stories of survival from major Air India crashes continue to resonate, not just as tales of miraculous escapes but as ongoing sagas of legal, psychological, and financial battles. The public narrative often ends with the rescue, but for the survivors of tragedies like the Mangalore, Kozhikode, and the recent Ahmedabad crashes, the true fight for normalcy and justice is a lifelong marathon.

The lives of these individuals have been irrevocably altered, forcing them to navigate complex legal systems for fair compensation while simultaneously grappling with profound physical injuries and debilitating post-traumatic stress. This article delves into the current status and enduring struggles of the survivors from the most significant Air India aviation disasters.

The Air India Crashes: A Profile of Survival

Air India, particularly its subsidiary Air India Express, has been involved in several devastating accidents. The survivors of these events represent a small fraction of those on board, each carrying a unique burden of being the one who lived. Here is a brief profile of the three most prominent crashes with survivors:

  • Air India Express Flight 812 (IX-812) - Mangalore (2010): The Boeing 737-800 from Dubai overshot the "tabletop" runway at Mangalore International Airport (Bajpe) on May 22, 2010. Of the 166 people on board, only eight passengers survived. The crash was attributed to pilot error, specifically the captain's delayed go-around decision.
  • Air India Express Flight 1344 (IX-1344) - Kozhikode (2020): The Boeing 737-800 from Dubai skidded off the runway at Kozhikode International Airport (Karipur) on August 7, 2020, during heavy rain, falling into a gorge and splitting into pieces. Of the 190 people on board, 18 died, leaving approximately 165 survivors, many with serious injuries.
  • Air India Flight 171 (AI-171) - Ahmedabad (Recent): This unconfirmed but widely reported recent incident involved a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashing on departure from Ahmedabad, killing 241 people. Visvash Kumar Ramesh, a 39-year-old Indian man based in Leicester, was the sole survivor. His account has been crucial to the ongoing investigation.

The Five Enduring Battles of the Survivors

Survival is a moment; recovery is a process. Years after the crashes, survivors from all three incidents face common, persistent challenges that define their post-disaster lives.

1. The Battle for Fair and Full Compensation

The legal fight for adequate compensation is a major hurdle. For survivors of the 2010 Mangalore crash (Flight 812), the battle for full and fair settlements dragged on for years, with some survivors reporting delays and inadequate payouts, forcing them to pursue separate legal avenues.

Similarly, the survivors of the 2020 Kozhikode crash (Flight 1344) have been involved in a protracted legal struggle. Petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the compensation structure offered by the airline. The legal argument often centers on the difference between the initial interim payments and the final settlements required to cover long-term medical care, loss of income, and psychological support.

In the most recent case of Flight 171, Air India announced an interim payment of ₹25 lakh (approximately $30,000 USD) to the sole survivor. However, aviation lawyers have raised concerns about the airline's conduct, alleging that relatives of the deceased were coerced into accepting settlements, an issue that often impacts survivors as well. The legal liability under the Montreal Convention is complex, particularly in cases involving pilot error or runway safety issues.

2. Overcoming Profound Psychological Trauma (PTSD)

Physical wounds heal, but the psychological scars of an aviation disaster are often permanent. Survivors from both the Mangalore and Kozhikode crashes report battling severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and recurring nightmares.

For the survivors of Flight 1344, a year after the tragedy, many were still fighting intense trauma and loss, requiring continuous psychological counseling. The experience of witnessing the plane split apart and helping others escape, as many did, leaves a deep and lasting psychological imprint.

Visvash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of Flight 171, described his survival as a "miracle" but confessed that the death of his brother in the disaster had left him "broken," highlighting the immense emotional burden of surviving when loved ones did not. This survivor's guilt is a common and debilitating form of trauma.

3. The Challenge of Long-Term Physical Recovery

Many survivors, especially from the 2020 Kozhikode crash, sustained severe, life-altering injuries, including multiple fractures, spinal damage, and head trauma. The road to physical recovery involves years of surgeries, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.

The cost and accessibility of this long-term medical care often become intertwined with the compensation battle. Survivors who require continuous specialized treatment find their financial settlements quickly depleted, forcing them to constantly advocate for further support from the airline or government agencies.

4. Rebuilding Careers and Financial Stability

The Mangalore crash survivors, a decade later, revealed how the disaster completely changed their lives and careers. Sustained injuries often prevented them from returning to their previous jobs, particularly those that were physically demanding.

This forced career change, coupled with the financial strain of medical bills and loss of income, creates a cycle of economic instability. The compensation process, which is designed to help, often moves too slowly to prevent immediate financial distress, pushing families into debt.

5. The Quest for Aviation Safety and Accountability

A central theme for many survivors is the desire for improved aviation safety to prevent future tragedies. The Air India Express crashes in Mangalore and Kozhikode both occurred on "tabletop runways," which are known for their challenging landing conditions, especially in adverse weather.

Survivors and victims' families often become activists, pushing for better infrastructure, stricter pilot training, and more rigorous regulatory oversight by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to address the systemic issues identified in the crash investigations, such as pilot misjudgement and inadequate safety protocols. Their fight is not just for themselves, but for every future passenger.

5 Enduring Battles of Air India Crash Survivors: Trauma, Compensation, and the Fight for Justice
air india crash survivors
air india crash survivors

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