'I survived plane crash by sitting in seat 11A like sole Air India survivor'
After the tragic Air India crash yesterday, a Thai singer has opened up about his haunting experience surviving a similar ordeal almost 30 years ago
Following the news that one man survived the horrific plane crash in western India yesterday, a Thai singer and actor has revealed that he also made it out of a crash alive – after sitting in the exact same numbered seat.
Ruangsak Loychusak, 47, survived the 1998 Thai Airways plane crash that killed 101 passengers after diving into a swamp. He was in seat 11A – the same number as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the British man who was the sole survivor of the Air India tragedy on June 12.
In 1998, The Thai Airways plane was carrying 132 passengers and 14 crew members – and only 45 people survived.
Ruangsak told the MailOnline: 'The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A. I want to offer my condolences to all those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.'
He went on to describe how the trauma impacted his life after the terrifying ordeal, and said that he had trouble flying for a decade. 'I would struggle breathing, even though the air circulation was normal. I avoided speaking to anyone and always stared outside the window, blocking anyone from closing it to maintain my sense of safety,' he explained.
Ruangsak also said that he can still remember the sounds, smells, and the taste of the swamp water, almost three decades later.
The Air India flight yesterday took off from Ahmedabad at 9.08am and was set to land later that day in London Gatwick. However, within minutes, it crashed into a dining hall for medical students in a residential area.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people including 53 Brits, 169 Indian nationals, seven Portuguese people, and one Canadian. While at first, the city's police chief told AP that there appeared to be no survivors, it was soon reported that Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was alive.
Shortly after the crash, he told the Hindustan Times: "When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital."
Ramesh was on the flight with his brother, who was seated in a different row. He said: "We visited Diu. He was travelling with me and I can't find him anymore. Please help me find him.'
Another of Ramesh's brothers, from Leicester in the East Midlands, said the family were 'shocked'. He continued: 'I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We're devastated, just devastated. He said: 'I have no idea how I exited the plane.''
The UK's prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, said in a press conference: 'The images and news from India is absolutely devastated and I speak for the entire country in saying our thoughts are with each and every one of those involved. There will be British and Indian families across the land who are absolutely impacted by this and our thoughts first and foremost are with them.'
He confirmed that an investigation team has been deployed, led by the foreign secretary. He said they were working with the Indian authorities to establish the facts of what happened, and would provide an update as soon as possible.
'I would say to all families, friends of anybody affected to please contact the foreign office for further information,' Starmer said.
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