I survived a plane disaster by sitting in seat 11A - just like Air India crash survivor: Singer reveals how he cheated death in 1998 tragedy that claimed 101 lives thanks to incredible coincidence

Daily Mail​

13-06-2025

A Thai singer has told how he survived a plane crash in 1998 that killed 101 passengers by sitting in the same seat as the sole survivor's of yesterday's Air India disaster.
Ruangsak Loychusak, 47, was onboard Thai Airways flight TG261 travelling from Bangkok to Surat Thani when it stalled and plunged into a swamp as it attempted to land.
The horrific tragedy left 101 of the 132 passengers and 14 crew members dead, while 45 more were injured.
Speaking yesterday, Ruangsak said he had 'goosebumps' when seeing that the only survivor from the Air India crash in Ahmedabad was British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was in seat 11A when his jet plunged into a building.
Ruangsak said: 'The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A', Mr Loychusak said.
'I want to offer my condolences to all those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.'
Although the singer no longer has his ticket from the doomed flight, he said newspapers reports from the time had recorded his seat number.
Mr Ruangsak also described how he has lived his 'second life' since he survived the devastating crash.
Speaking yesterday, Ruangsak said he had 'goosebumps' when seeing that the only survivor from the Air India crash in Ahmedabad was British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was in seat 11A when his jet plunged into a building
'I had difficulty flying for 10 years after the crash. I would struggled breathing, even though the air circulation was normal', he said.
'I avoided speaking to anyone and always stared outside the window, blocking anyone from closing it to maintain my sense of safety.
'If I saw dark clouds or a rainstorm outside, I would feel terrible, like I was in hell.
'I can still remember the sounds, smells, and even the taste of the water in the swamp the plane crashed into. For a long time, I would keep the feelings to myself.'
The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into buildings moments after takeoff on Thursday.
The aircraft, which was bound for London Gatwick, exploded in a fireball.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, from Leicester, England, was the only person from the 244 onboard to survive.
Sharing his shocking account of the disaster today, he described how he was 'ejected' from the jet before it hit the ground and exploded.
Mr Ramesh, who lives in London with his wife and child, is being treated at a hospital in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad, where he told doctors that immediately after the plane took off, it began descending and suddenly split in two, ejecting him before there was a loud explosion.
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who examined Mr Ramesh, told the Associated Press that he was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body' but that he 'seems to be out of danger.'
Speaking to Indian broadcaster Doordarshan, Mr Ramesh said: 'I don't know how I came out of it alive.
'For a while, I thought I was about to die. But when I opened my eyes, I saw I was alive. And I opened my seatbelt and got out of there,' adding how two cabin crew members 'died before my eyes.'
His seat was placed right next to the emergency door, which he says came off when the plane hit the ground.
Mr Ramesh also described how just moments after take off, it 'felt like the plane had got stuck.'
He recalled how the pilots tried to raise the jet, but it 'went full speed and crashed into the building'.
Mr Ramesh explained how the plane quickly caught fire following the crash, and said he burned his arm.
Astonishing footage taken near the crash site yesterday showed Mr Ramesh with visible injuries hobbling away from the jet before he was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Mr Ramesh, whose brother was also on the flight and is presumed dead, described yesterday how he heard a 'a loud noise' before the plane crashed.
'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.'
India's prime minister met the plane crash survivor on Friday, as well as those who were injured on the ground.
He recalled how the pilots tried to raise the jet, but it 'went full speed and crashed into the building'.
Mr Ramesh explained how the plane quickly caught fire following the crash, and said he burned his arm.
Astonishing footage taken near the crash site yesterday showed Mr Ramesh with visible injuries hobbling away from the jet before he was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Mr Ramesh, whose brother was also on the flight and is presumed dead, described yesterday how he heard a 'a loud noise' before the plane crashed.
'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.'
India's prime minister met the plane crash survivor on Friday, as well as those who were injured on the ground.