In a heart-wrenching scene, Viswashkumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the recent Air India plane disaster, found himself in the role of pallbearer at his brother's funeral. Amidst the mourning crowds in Diu, located on India's west coast, Viswashkumar paid his final respects to his brother Ajay Ramesh, who tragically lost his life in the crash. Just days prior, these brothers had occupied seats just rows apart on the ill-fated flight AI171, which was bound for London.

On Wednesday, local time, Viswashkumar, still nursing visible injuries with bandages on his face, participated in carrying his brother’s coffin through the streets. The emotional weight of the situation was palpable; he was surrounded by family members offering him support as they navigated their shared grief. Flight AI171, which met with disaster on its journey, claimed the lives of all 241 passengers aboard, along with at least 30 individuals on the ground, including five medical students who were in the vicinity of the crash site.

Viswashkumar's survival is nothing short of miraculous. After the crash, he managed to escape the wreckage and sought medical assistance, becoming the sole beacon of hope in a tragedy that has cast a long shadow over families across India and beyond. In light of this disaster, other memorial services for victims have been held nationwide, but many families are still in limbo, anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones. The identification process has been painfully slow, with distraught relatives providing DNA samples to assist authorities.

Medical Superintendent Rakesh Joshi reported that as of Wednesday, authorities had identified 208 victims of the crash, amidst the chaos and sorrow that enveloped the nation. Families across India and the world continue to mourn, gripped by grief and disbelief as they grapple with the loss of their loved ones.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Air India has addressed the ongoing investigation into the crash, asserting that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved had no prior history of engine issues. Natarajan Chandrasekaran revealed in an interview with Times Now that the aircraft's right engine was newly installed in March 2025, while the left engine had undergone servicing in 2023. The investigation, being conducted by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with support from UK and US officials alongside Boeing experts, is expected to take several months, if not years, to yield a definitive cause for the crash.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, India's aviation safety regulator has mandated more rigorous inspections of Boeing 787 aircraft operated by Air India. The repercussions were immediate, with Air India canceling 83 wide-body flights, including 66 Dreamliner services, as a result of these new checks. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that no significant safety concerns were discovered during these inspections.

In a bid to ensure passenger safety and operational stability, Air India announced a 15 percent reduction in international wide-body aircraft flights for the upcoming weeks. This operational change is attributed to the extensive safety checks and disruptions caused by the crash. While 26 out of the airline's 33 Boeing 787 aircraft have been inspected and cleared for service, additional checks are scheduled for the remaining planes and the Boeing 777 fleet.