Latest news with #Loychusak
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Ahmedabad plane crash: Thai singer who survived 1998 plane crash shares chilling coincidence with Air India tragedy survivor
Thai pop singer Ruangsak James Loychusak, who survived a devastating plane crash in 1998, has grabbed the Internet's attention after he shared a chilling coincidence with the sole survivor of the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad. Nearly three decades later, the very seat he occupied during that crash, 11A, resurfaces in another chilling, similar tragedy. Loychusak, who is now 47, recently took to Facebook to share his shock after knowing that the only survivor of the recent crash in Ahmedabad was also seated in 11A. 'The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A. Goosebumps,' he wrote. See the viral post here: However, Thai Airways, on which Loychusak was boarded, operated an Airbus A310, and Air India used a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. On June 12, Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed just 33 seconds after take-off. The aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel, killing 241 people on board. Miraculously, one passenger survived. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, a British Indian national, the sole survivor, had been seated in 11A. He had recently travelled to Diu with his elder brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh, 45, who was seated elsewhere on the aircraft. Vishwash, a longtime London resident, had been scheduled to return home to his wife and child. Viswash, who is currently admitted to a local hospital, told DD News, 'The side of the plane I was on landed on the ground next to the hostel. When the door broke, I saw that there was space, and tried to get out. On the opposite side, there was the hostel, and I saw no one could leave from there. There was some space (to exit) only where I was (seated).'
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Time of India
The miracle of seat 11A: Man who survived Ahmedabad tragedy shared same seat number as Thai survivor of 1998 airplane crash
In a bizarre and haunting chain of events, two men—born in different countries, nearly thirty years apart in age, and separated by continents—escaped death from plane crashes while occupying the exact same seat: 11A. One tragedy occurred in Thailand in 1998, while the other unfolded in India in 2025. The unsettling parallel is now making headlines worldwide and stirring discussions across social media. A Brush With Death in 1998 Back in 1998, Thai Airways flight TG261 was attempting to land at Surat Thani airport when it met with disaster. The crash claimed 101 lives out of the 146 passengers and crew on board. As reported by The Telegraph, one of the lucky few to survive was James Ruangsak Loychusak , a Thai actor and musician who was 20 years old at the time. His seat? 11A. Loychusak wrote on Facebook: 'The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A. Goosebumps." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Binh Hung Hoa B: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Though he walked away with his life, the psychological aftermath of the crash left deep scars. Loychusak later shared that for ten years, he battled an intense fear of flying. The mere sight of stormy clouds would plunge him into distress, and he avoided conversations or contact with other passengers during flights. Even something as simple as someone trying to shut the plane window near him would trigger anxiety, as it disrupted the fragile sense of security he tried to maintain by watching the skies himself. '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," he told MailOnline. History Repeats in 2025 Fast forward 27 years, and another aviation nightmare unfolded—this time in Ahmedabad, India. Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, bound for London Gatwick. Just 33 seconds into its journey, the aircraft lost control and plummeted into a nearby medical college hostel. The catastrophic impact killed 241 people on board. But amid the devastation, one man miraculously survived: 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh . Like Loychusak decades earlier, Vishwash had been seated in 11A. A British national of Indian origin, Vishwash was visiting relatives in Gujarat and had recently wrapped up a vacation to Diu with his elder brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh. Ajay, seated elsewhere on the doomed plane, was among the victims of the crash. Vishwash's escape from death has stunned the world—not just because he was the lone survivor, but because of the eerie link to Loychusak's experience from 1998. Lives Forever Changed Currently residing in London, Vishwash has lived in the UK for over two decades. His wife and child, still in the city, anxiously await his return following the unimaginable ordeal. Though he has physically survived, the emotional and mental toll of such an event is bound to be immense—just as it was for Loychusak years ago. This bizarre, almost mystical link between two survivors—bound by fate, tragedy, and seat 11A—is serving as a chilling reminder of how history can echo in the most unexpected and unsettling ways. Who Is James Ruangsak Loychusak? Ruangsak Loychusak who gained fame under the stage name James Ruangsak, is a prominent figure in Thailand's entertainment industry, celebrated both as a singer and an actor. He made his musical debut with the album Dai which translates to 'It's Time for James,' marking the beginning of his career in the Thai pop music scene. Following his debut, he continued to expand his discography with a string of albums that helped solidify his status as a pop sensation. These included Siren Love, Forever James, The Next, James Hits Series, and James F. M. Of these, Siren Love and James F. M. were particularly successful, becoming two of his most commercially popular records. Among his most well-loved songs are 'Khon Raek' (Thai: คนแรก), meaning 'First One,' 'Khao Man Kai' (ข้าวมันไก่), a playful tune named after the Thai version of Hainanese chicken rice, and 'Mai Aht Bplian Jai' (ไม่อาจเปลี่ยนใจ), which translates roughly as 'I Shouldn't Change Your Mind.' These tracks became staples in Thai pop music during the late 1990s and early 2000s, showcasing his vocal versatility and emotional range. Outside the music world, James also pursued other passions. He trained in taekwondo, a Korean martial art known for its dynamic kicks and disciplined practice, highlighting his interest in physical performance and athleticism. His skills were brought to the big screen when he took on an action-packed role in Gangster Boys, a movie released in February 1997. The film was helmed by director Ricky Loo and produced by Five Star Production, a well-known Thai film company.
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Seat 11A saves again: Thai singer finds chilling coincidence with survivor of Air India crash
In an extraordinary twist of fate, two men — separated by nearly three decades and thousands of miles — survived devastating plane crashes while seated in the exact same seat: 11A. One crash took place in Thailand in 1998, the other in India in 2025. Now, this eerie coincidence is capturing global attention. As reported by The Telegraph, James Ruangsak Loychusak, a 47-year-old Thai actor and singer, was among the survivors of Thai Airways flight TG261, which crashed during a landing attempt in Surat Thani in 1998. Of the 146 people on board, 101 lost their lives. Loychusak, seated in 11A, defied the odds — a fact that would gain renewed significance 27 years later. (Also read: Moments of terror: Locals run for cover after Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad) Loychusak was left stunned upon discovering that the sole survivor of the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, had also been seated in 11A. 'Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A,' Loychusak wrote in a Facebook post, reacting to the uncanny and chilling coincidence. Check out the post here: The Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner travelling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, tragically crashed into a medical college hostel just 33 seconds after take-off, killing 241 people. Miraculously, one passenger survived: 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British Indian national. Vishwash, who had been in India visiting family, was seated in seat 11A. He was travelling with his elder brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh, 45, who was seated elsewhere on the flight. The siblings had recently returned from a trip to Diu. 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,' Vishwash told HT. (Also read: Woman who missed Air India flight by 'just 10 minutes' talks about lucky escape: 'My body is shivering') He recounted the horror: '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.' He remains in hospital, recovering, and anxiously searching for news of his brother. 'He was travelling with me and I can't find him anymore,' he said. Vishwash has lived in London for the past 20 years, where his wife and child reside — now waiting for his safe return home.
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First Post
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Miracles in seat 11A: The tale of 2 air crashes and 2 survivors
Thai singer Ruangsak James Loychusak, a survivor of the 1998 Thai Airways crash, said he got 'goosebumps' when he found out an eerie coincidence with the recent Air India crash survivor, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh. They both sat in the same seat, 11A. Loychusak was among the 45 people who survived the Thai Airways crash that killed 146 people three decades ago read more In December 1998, Thai singer Ruangsak Loychusak was aboard Thai Airways Flight TG261 to Surat Thani when it stalled and crashed into a swamp, killing 146. Among 45 survivors was Loychusak, seated in 11A, same as Ahmedabad Air India passenger, Vishwas Ramesh. Image courtesy: Instagram, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives Calling Seat 11A a 'miracle seat' would not be an exaggeration. Back in 1998, Thai singer Ruangsak James Loychusak survived a devastating plane crash, an experience that stayed with him forever. But he never thought the seat he was in that day, 11A, would come back into conversation decades later. Nearly 27 years on, when he saw reports that the only survivor of a recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad was also seated in 11A, he was taken aback. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A. Goosebumps', Loychusak, now 47, wrote on Facebook. Earlier this week, India witnessed one of its most tragic aviation accidents in recent history. An Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board. The only person who made it out alive was Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, an Indian-origin British national. And now, Loychusak's survival story from 1998 is back in the spotlight, with an uncanny connection to the same seat number, 11A. Here's what we know How seat 11A gave Loychusak a 'second life' In December 1998, 20-year-old Thai singer Ruangsak Loychusak was aboard Thai Airways Flight TG261 from Bangkok to Surat Thani when the Airbus A310 stalled and crashed into a swamp. Of 146 people on board, only 45 survived. Among them was Loychusak, seated in 11A. He somehow managed to crawl out of the wreckage and was rushed to the hospital with injuries. He no longer has his boarding pass from that day, but he says newspaper reports from the time had documented his seat number: 11A. The crash left deep emotional scars. Loychusak has often described the years since as his 'second life'. Of 146 people on board, only 45 survived. Among them was Loychusak, seated in 11A. Loychusak has often described the years since as his 'second life'. Image courtesy: X 'I had difficulty flying for 10 years after the crash. I would struggle breathing, even though the air circulation was normal,' he told The Daily Mail. '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.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The memories of that day never left him. '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,' he said. In December 1998, 20-year-old Thai singer Ruangsak Loychusak was aboard Thai Airways Flight TG261 from Bangkok to Surat Thani when the Airbus A310 stalled and crashed into a swamp. Image courtesy: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives So when he came across reports that the lone survivor of the Air India crash in June 2025 had also been seated in 11A, he felt a chill. He then offered condolences to those who lost their lives in the tragic incident. How 11A became a 'miracle seat' for Vishwas Just days ago, 40-year-old Vishwas Ramesh became the only person to survive the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. He, too, had been sitting in 11A. Speaking from his hospital bed, Ramesh shared the moment he realised he had somehow survived. 'I've no idea how I survived. For a while, I thought I was dying too. But when I opened my eyes, I tried to get out. I saw the gate was broken and there was a small gap — I jumped through it,' he told DD News. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen, was the only person to survive the crash. PTI/Reuters According to NDTV, which analysed the seating layout of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Ramesh's seat 11A was located at the front of the economy section, just behind business class, and close to the left-side emergency exits. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That location may have made all the difference. Ramesh's seat 11A was located in the first row of the economy section, just behind business class and close to the left-side emergency exits. That positioning may have made all the difference. Image courtesy: SeatGuru The section of the plane where Ramesh was seated crashed into the lower floor of a building. While upper levels of the aircraft were engulfed in fire, his part of the fuselage stayed relatively intact. That narrow stroke of luck may have given him the chance to escape. Footage taken near the crash site shows Ramesh, injured and limping, making his way away from the burning jet before emergency responders reached him. Ramesh, who grew up in India and later moved to the UK, had been travelling with his brother Ajay, who tragically did not survive the crash. Seat 11A: From the 'worst seat' to a lucky charm Among frequent flyers, seat 11A hasn't exactly been a popular choice. Flight attendants from American Airlines once told The Sun that 11A and 11F are among the most complained-about seats. They're located mid-cabin, meaning passengers often have to wait longer to deboard. But perhaps the biggest disappointment? On many aircraft, including certain Boeing 737s, 11A is a window seat…without an actual window. Thanks to internal wiring, air ducts, or aircraft design quirks, seats like 9A to 12A sometimes sit beside a blank wall. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yet in the wake of these two unbelievable survival stories, the perception of 11A is starting to shift. Online, people are now referring to it as 'the miracle seat.' Some are even asking airlines if they can reserve it, not for the view, but for the luck. With input from agencies
NDTV
14-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
Seat 11A: 2 Plane Crashes, 2 Survivors, 27 Years Apart
New Delhi: Two plane crash survivors, nearly three decades apart, shared the same seat: 11A. The first crash happened in Thailand in 1998, the other in India in 2025, and both survivors walked away from near-certain death. James Ruangsak Loychusak, an actor and singer from Thailand, was shocked to discover that the only person who survived the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad was also sitting in seat 11A, the same seat he sat in when he defied death 27 years ago. Mr Loychusak, 47, was on Thai Airways flight TG261 in 1998 when it crashed while attempting a landing in Surat Thani, a city in southern Thailand. The flight took off from Bangkok, but during landing, it stalled mid-air and crashed, killing 101 of the 146 people on board. He was one of the survivors and was seated in 11A, reported The Telegraph. When the actor heard about the sole Air India flight AI-171 crash survivor - a 40-year-old British Indian man, Viswash Kumar Ramesh, who also happened to be seated in 11A, he noticed the strange coincidence. "Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A," he wrote on Facebook. But this was just a coincidence, for there were multiple survivors in the Thai Airways crash. In contrast, the Air India crash had only one survivor. Additionally, the two aircraft were different. Thai Airways Flight was an Airbus A310, while Air India Flight AI-171 used a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The design, layout, and seat positioning of 11A are different on the two aircraft. The London-bound Air India flight took off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on June 12 and crashed 30 seconds later on the hostel building of a nearby medical college. Of the 242 people on board, Viswash was the only survivor.
