Air India Plane Crash: Is Seat 11A a Miracle Spot? Survivors, Crashes, and a Mystery in the Sky
Share this article:
In what will be remembered as one of the most tragic aviation disasters in recent Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London. The wreckage, flames, and loss of life left a nation in mourning. But amidst the devastation, emerged a story so unbelievable, it feels like it belongs in fiction—a lone survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh , walked out alive from seat 11A.
But while everyone feared the worst, one man stepped out of the smoke—injured, dazed, and miraculously alive.
It’s a placement that, quite possibly, saved his life.
Speaking from the hospital later, Ramesh recalled:
“At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage near my seat. I managed to unbuckle myself. I used my leg to push through that opening and crawled out.”
Another earlier clip shows him stumbling out from the crash site, yelling in Gujarati, “Plane fatyo che” (the plane has exploded). His disbelief and trauma were evident—but so was his will to survive.
In a shocking twist, Thai singer and actor James Ruangsak Loychusak—a survivor of a 1998 Thai Airways crash—came forward with an uncanny detail. He too had survived while seated in 11A.
Loychusak was one of the few survivors of Thai Airways Flight TG261, which crashed while landing in southern Thailand. That crash killed 101 people. Loychusak said he hadn’t flown for nearly a decade afterward, battling trauma and anxiety.
When he heard about Ramesh’s survival—and the seat number—he reportedly said, “I got goosebumps.”
He no longer has the boarding pass to prove it, but news reports from 1998 confirm his account. Two survivors. Two deadly crashes. One seat number.
The verdict? No.
Mitchell Fox of the U.S.-based Flight Safety Foundation explained, "There is no universally safest seat on an airplane."
“Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location alone,” Mitchell Fox added. Seat 11A might have been lucky that day—but it’s no golden ticket.
Even the layout of a seat can differ by airline or aircraft version. What was 11A near an exit on this Dreamliner might be far from one on another.
As aviation consultant Ron Bartsch put it,
“In this particular instance, because the passenger was sitting adjacent to the emergency exit, this was obviously the safest seat on the day. But it's not always 11A, it's just 11A on this configuration of the Boeing 787.”
In a panic, even that becomes a tall task.
It’s all situational. Again, there are no guarantees.
...could mean the difference between life and death.
One golden tip: Count the rows between you and the nearest exit before takeoff. In a smoke-filled cabin, you’ll be glad you did.
Despite the emotional weight of air disasters, flying remains one of the safest forms of transport.
These stories, like Ramesh’s, remind us of the unpredictable nature of fate.
In a world where tragedies often make headlines, this one miracle seat gave us a reason to believe—in survival, in strength, and in the astonishing resilience of the human spirit.
A Routine Flight Turned Nightmare
On what seemed like a regular Thursday morning, Air India flight AI171 lifted off from Ahmedabad. Minutes later, disaster struck. The aircraft spiraled out of control and crashed near a medical college, engulfed in flames. Among the many victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, making the tragedy even more deeply felt across India.But while everyone feared the worst, one man stepped out of the smoke—injured, dazed, and miraculously alive.
The Miracle of Seat 11A
Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin, had been visiting his family in India and was returning home to the UK with his brother. He was seated in 11A, a window seat located in the front row of the economy class cabin—right behind business class. On this particular Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner configuration, 11A is positioned next to an emergency exit.It’s a placement that, quite possibly, saved his life.
Speaking from the hospital later, Ramesh recalled:
“At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage near my seat. I managed to unbuckle myself. I used my leg to push through that opening and crawled out.”
Caught on Camera: A Survivor in the Flames
A now-viral video captures Ramesh walking away from the crash site, visibly injured, wearing a white t-shirt and holding his phone. Behind him, thick black smoke rose into the sky. Locals rushed to his aid, escorting him to the hospital as emergency services battled the blaze.Another earlier clip shows him stumbling out from the crash site, yelling in Gujarati, “Plane fatyo che” (the plane has exploded). His disbelief and trauma were evident—but so was his will to survive.
The 11A Coincidence: A Chilling Parallel
In a shocking twist, Thai singer and actor James Ruangsak Loychusak—a survivor of a 1998 Thai Airways crash—came forward with an uncanny detail. He too had survived while seated in 11A.
Loychusak was one of the few survivors of Thai Airways Flight TG261, which crashed while landing in southern Thailand. That crash killed 101 people. Loychusak said he hadn’t flown for nearly a decade afterward, battling trauma and anxiety.
When he heard about Ramesh’s survival—and the seat number—he reportedly said, “I got goosebumps.”
He no longer has the boarding pass to prove it, but news reports from 1998 confirm his account. Two survivors. Two deadly crashes. One seat number.
Is 11A Really the Safest Seat?
The gripping survival story has reignited a popular question: is there a “safest seat” on a plane? With Ramesh’s case now in the spotlight, many are turning to aviation experts for answers.The verdict? No.
Mitchell Fox of the U.S.-based Flight Safety Foundation explained, "There is no universally safest seat on an airplane."
“Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location alone,” Mitchell Fox added. Seat 11A might have been lucky that day—but it’s no golden ticket.
Even the layout of a seat can differ by airline or aircraft version. What was 11A near an exit on this Dreamliner might be far from one on another.
Why Ramesh May Have Survived
In this crash, the side of the plane where Ramesh sat did not hit the building—unlike the other side, which was blocked. The emergency exit next to his seat was still usable. Others, unfortunately, were not so lucky.As aviation consultant Ron Bartsch put it,
“In this particular instance, because the passenger was sitting adjacent to the emergency exit, this was obviously the safest seat on the day. But it's not always 11A, it's just 11A on this configuration of the Boeing 787.”
Do Exit Row Seats Help?
Being near an emergency exit can improve survival chances—if the door is functional and not blocked. But these seats also come with responsibility. Passengers seated there must be physically capable of operating the exit in an emergency.In a panic, even that becomes a tall task.
Window vs. Aisle: What's Safer?
While aisle seats may offer faster exit access, they’re also prone to falling luggage injuries. Window seats, though more enclosed, can protect you during panic-induced rushes.It’s all situational. Again, there are no guarantees.
What Does Improve Your Odds?
Experts agree: safety briefings matter. They may feel routine, but knowing how to:- Locate your nearest exits
- Brace properly
- Use life vests and oxygen masks
...could mean the difference between life and death.
One golden tip: Count the rows between you and the nearest exit before takeoff. In a smoke-filled cabin, you’ll be glad you did.
Technology Is on Our Side
Modern aircraft, like the Dreamliner, are loaded with safety upgrades:- Fire-retardant materials
- Floor path lighting
- Stronger seat mounts
- Quicker-opening exits
Despite the emotional weight of air disasters, flying remains one of the safest forms of transport.
Lone Survivors Through History
Ramesh is not the only one to survive a crash alone. Here are some others:- On December 24, 1971, LANSA Flight 508, a Lockheed L-188 Electra flying from Lima to Pucallpa, Peru, broke apart mid-air during a thunderstorm and crashed into the Amazon Rainforest. Of the 92 people on board, only one survived—17-year-old Juliane Koepcke. Still strapped to her seat, she fell two miles (3.2 km) and then trekked alone through the jungle for 10 days before being rescued by local lumbermen.
- On June 30, 2009, Yemenia Flight 626, en route from Sanaa, Yemen, to Moroni, Comoros, plunged into the Indian Ocean while approaching its destination due to pilot error. Of the 153 people aboard, only 12-year-old Bahia Bakari survived, found clinging to floating wreckage after the crash.
- On May 18, 2018, Cubana de Aviación Flight 972, a Boeing 737-200/Adv, crashed shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport in Cuba. Out of 113 passengers and crew, 112 lost their lives. The sole survivor, Maylen Díaz, endured severe injuries but miraculously escaped without burns.
These stories, like Ramesh’s, remind us of the unpredictable nature of fate.
The Power of a Seat, the Strength of a Survivor
Whether 11A is just a number or something more symbolic is up for debate. But what is certain is that Viswashkumar Ramesh is alive today because he remained calm, took quick action, and had just enough luck on his side.In a world where tragedies often make headlines, this one miracle seat gave us a reason to believe—in survival, in strength, and in the astonishing resilience of the human spirit.
Next Story