In an astonishing twist of fate, seat 11A on two different flights, separated by 27 years and thousands of miles, became the unlikely refuge for the sole survivors of two devastating plane crashes.
A Chilling Coincidence in Aviation History
The first was Ruangsak Loychusak, a Thai pop singer who survived the 1998 crash of Thai Airways Flight TG261, which killed 101 people. The second was Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British passenger who miraculously walked away from the Air India Flight AI171 disaster in 2025, where 241 others perished.
The revelation of this eerie connection has stunned aviation experts, survivors, and the public alike, sparking debates about luck, fate, and the science of survival.
Survivor 1: Ruangsak Loychusak’s Escape from Thai Airways Flight TG261
On December 11, 1998, Thai Airways Flight TG261, an Airbus A310, was attempting to land in Surat Thani, Thailand, when it plunged into a swamp. Of the 146 people on board, only 45 survived; one of them was 20-year-old Ruangsak Loychusak, seated in 11A.
Ruangsak, now 47, recalls the horror of that day: “I remember the screams, the impact, and then darkness. When I woke up, I was surrounded by wreckage and bodies.” Though he escaped with injuries, the psychological scars lasted for years. He avoided flying for a decade, haunted by survivor’s guilt and recurring nightmares.
News archives confirmed his seat number, though he no longer has his boarding pass. For years, he considered his survival a “second chance at life” until he learned of another man’s identical escape.
Survivor 2: Vishwas Kumar Ramesh and the Air India Catastrophe
Fast forward to June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed just 33 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India. The plane, bound for London, split in two upon impact, erupting into a fireball. Among the 242 passengers and crew, only one man survived, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A.
Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, was thrown from the wreckage and managed to walk to an ambulance despite severe burns and fractures. In a hospital interview, he described the horrifying moments: “I heard a loud noise, then everything went black. When I opened my eyes, I saw flames and bodies. I just ran.” Tragically, his brother, seated nearby, did not survive.
Footage of Ramesh stumbling away from the crash site went viral, earning him the nickname “Miracle Man.” But the real shock came when Ruangsak saw the news: the same seat number, the same impossible survival.
Why Did They Survive? Experts Weigh In
While the “miracle seat” theory has captured the public imagination, aviation experts caution against superstition. Instead, they point to three key factors that may have contributed to both men’s survival:
- Proximity to Emergency Exits
- Ramesh’s 11A seat was in the emergency exit row, giving him a direct escape path when the plane broke apart.
- Ruangsak’s seat was also near an exit, though records on the exact configuration of the 1998 Thai Airways flight are limited.
- Structural Strength Near the Wings
- Seat 11A in the Boeing 787 is close to the wing box, one of the strongest parts of an aircraft, which may have shielded Ramesh from fatal impact forces.
- Pure Luck
- As University of Greenwich Professor Ed Galea noted, “Why did he survive and not the person next to him? It’s largely luck.”
Despite these explanations, the 1-in-a-million odds of two sole survivors sharing the same seat number remain staggering.
The Psychological Toll: Survivor’s Guilt and Second Chances
Both survivors have spoken about the emotional aftermath of their ordeals.
- Ruangsak struggled with aerophobia for 10 years and still feels deep sorrow for those who perished. “Every time I see a plane, I think of the lives lost,” he said.
- Ramesh, still recovering in the hospital, has expressed anguish over losing his brother and the weight of being the only one to live.
Psychologists note that survivor’s guilt is common in such cases, with many lone survivors experiencing depression, anxiety, and existential questioning.
Public Fascination: From Superstition to Safety Awareness
The “11A phenomenon” has sparked global intrigue:
- Social media has dubbed it the “Final Destination seat”, with memes and conspiracy theories circulating widely.
- Some travellers are now demanding seat 11A, while others avoid it, fearing a curse.
- Airlines have noted an increase in bookings for exit rows, highlighting how such incidents shape passenger behaviour.
However, aviation safety experts urge caution, emphasising that no seat guarantees survival. Every crash is unique.
Conclusion: A Story of Resilience, Not Just Coincidence
While the 11A connection is undeniably eerie, the more profound lesson lies in the human spirit’s resilience. Both Ruangsak and Ramesh have spoken of living purposefully after their near-death experiences.
As aviation analyst Guy Leitch summarised: “This isn’t about a magic seat, it’s about the fragility of life and the will to survive.”
For now, the mystery of Seat 11A remains unsolved, a haunting reminder of fate’s unpredictability in the skies.
