There are moments in life that defy logic and beg belief. One such moment unfolded this week in Ahmedabad, India, where Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, emerged as the sole survivor of the harrowing Air India Flight AI‑171 crash.
What’s stranger? This very seat—11A—also saved James Ruangsak Loychusak, a Thai actor-singer, back in 1998. Nearly three decades and two catastrophic crashes apart, seat 11A seems to mock probability itself.
A Tale of Two Crashes, Two Survivors
In 1998, Thai Airways Flight TG261, an Airbus A310, crashed during landing in Surat Thani, Thailand. Of 146 passengers aboard, James Loychusak, aged just 20, was one of only a handful to survive—seated in 11A.
Fast forward to June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad: Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed seconds after takeoff, claiming all but one of its 242 occupants.
That one survivor? Once again, seat 11A—this time occupied by Vishwash Ramesh, a 40-year-old British-Indian returning to the UK.
James himself was stunned at the news, posting on Facebook:
“Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A.” The eerie repetition sent ripples of fascination through the world —the exact seat becoming the unlikely link between two near-fatal journeys.
What Happened in Ahmedabad
Flight AI‑171 lifted off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport around 1:38 PM IST. Mere seconds later, it lost altitude, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel, and exploded into a fireball—leaving 241 passengers,
12 crew, and at least 24 people on the ground dead. The impact was devastating; the plane disintegrated and engulfed buildings around it.
Left barely unscathed amid the fuselage’s collapse, Ramesh awoke “dazed, bloodied and burned,” astonished at his survival.
Why Seat 11A?
Seat 11A is located in the emergency exit row, first row of economy, directly behind business class—offering access and space that proved crucial. After the crash, that plane section broke off cleanly and pressed into the hostel’s ground floor.
Ramesh recounted that when the door broke apart, it created an opening—and he just ran out
Experts caution that seat safety varies by crash dynamics. While some data suggests rear or exit-row seats fare slightly better, crash outcomes often hinge on the unique pattern of impact
Psychology of a Miracle Seat
Surviving a crash as the sole human survivor is a rare phenomenon. Ramesh joins a harrowing list—like Bahia Bakari (2009 Yemen crash) and Cecelia Cichan (1987 Detroit crash)—where luck, position, and split-second choices converge.
But this isn’t just about luck. Psychologists warn of survivor’s guilt, compounded by intense media focus. Ramesh, like Loychusak, may need support to process the trauma, the loss of others, and the surreal nature of his rescue.
Statistical Rarity and Seat Legends
Despite the tales, air travel remains intensely safe. Studies show 94% of commercial jet crashes allow for some survivors. Emergency-row seats may marginally improve odds, but crash variables matter most. Survivors often emphasize speed and exit accessibility more than seat luck.
Still, human curiosity clings to patterns—seat 11A now garners both superstition and fascination. Social media buzzed with users hunting exit rows, tagging #Seat11A and wondering if a flight swap might be their own talisman.
What This Teaches Us: Fate, Chance & Survival
- The Coincidence: Two men, different eras and continents, clinging to existence in seat 11A.
- Exit-row power: The unglamorous but vital advantage during disaster—space, exit clarity, and structural separation.
- Human effects: Media, empathy, and emotional aftermath—to survive is to carry this burden.
- Survival’s mystery: Despite data, no one can fully predict who survives or why.
Seat 11A offers no guarantee—but in two extraordinary, unrelated disasters, it became a seedbed for survival. It reminds us that amidst unpredictability, the human spirit can prevail in impossible ways.
For Ramesh, life continues with scars and perhaps survivor’s guilt. For James, shared trauma reawakened old wounds. For the rest of us, the story compels caution, respect for aviation safety, and humility before fate’s whims.
Key Takeaways
- Two survivors, same seat—James Loychusak (1998, Airbus A310) and Vishwash Ramesh (2025, Boeing 787-8), both in 11A.
- Exit-row advantage: Able to escape quickly when the door broke; proximity to exit crucial in Ramesh’s case.
- Survival doesn’t equal safety: Experts stress crash dynamics trump seat location.
- Psychological burden: Survivors risk guilt, trauma, and life-long emotional consequences.
- Statistical truth: Commercial jet travel remains among the safest modes, with most crashes offering survivors
