Latest news with #RuangsakJamesLoychusak
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- 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).'
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First Post
2 days ago
- 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
News18
2 days ago
- News18
'Goosebumps': Thai Singer's Seat 11A Miracle Mirrors Sole Survivor's Story From Air India Crash
Last Updated: Thai singer Ruangsak James Loychusak was in seat 11A, the same seat which was occupied by Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Is 11A truly a saviour? Amid ongoing discussions about the supposedly lucky seat 11A following the AI-171 flight crash in Ahmedabad, a Thai singer has revealed his survival of a fatal plane crash while occupying the same seat as the sole British survivor of the Air India disaster. Ruangsak Loychusak detailed his experience aboard Thai Airways flight TG261, travelling from Bangkok to India. The aircraft stalled and crashed into a swamp, resulting in 101 fatalities. Thai singer Ruangsak James Loychusak, now 47, survived the 1998 Thai Airways crash. Recalling the incident, he revealed a striking coincidence: he was seated in 11A, the same seat occupied by Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad. Loychusak wrote on Facebook: 'The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A. Goosebumps." Ruangsak revealed that the crash left him with lasting trauma. He struggled for a decade with aerophobia (fear of flying), social avoidance, and anxiety triggered by clouds. '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," the MailOnline quoted him as saying. He added: '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." Although Ruangsak no longer possesses his original boarding pass, newspaper reports confirm his seat number as 11A. He offered condolences to the families affected by the recent Air India tragedy, stating that surviving the previous crash gave him a 'second life". The Boeing Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. Of the 242 people on board, Ramesh was the only survivor. First Published: June 14, 2025, 14:47 IST
Mint
2 days ago
- General
- Mint
Same seat, same miracle: Thailand star finds eerie link with Air India plane crash survivor, ‘I was in 11A, too'
Thai singer Ruangsak James Loychusak, now 47, was a survivor of the 1998 Thai Airways plane crash that killed 101 people. He has recalled surviving and revealed an uncanny coincidence. He was in seat 11A, the same seat as the only survivor of the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Ruangsak was on flight TG261, which crashed into a swamp while landing in Surat Thani. Only 45 people survived. He said he got goosebumps when he saw the seat number of Vishwaskumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the Air India crash. 'The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A. Goosebumps', Loychusak wrote on Facebook. Ahmedabad: The ticket of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a survivor of the Air India plane crash, in Ahmedabad, Thursday, June 12, 2025. The Ahmedabad-London Air India flight, carrying 242 passengers, crashed moments after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport. (PTI Photo) (PTI06_12_2025_000362B) Ruangsak shared that the crash left deep trauma. For 10 years, he feared flying, avoided people and got anxious seeing clouds. '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,' the MailOnline quoted him as saying. Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets and enquires about the health condition of Viswash Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the Air India AI-171 flight crash, at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday. (ANI Photo) '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 added. Though he doesn't have his old boarding pass, newspaper reports confirmed his seat number. He offered condolences to all who lost loved ones in the recent tragedy and said surviving gave him a 'second life'. The singer's Facebook friends commented on his post. 'I clearly remember the day I went to visit you at the hospital. I was standing in front of the glass room and saw you with tubes all over your body, looking like you were asleep or unconscious. After visiting you, I had to rush to catch my next flight to Surat Thani immediately. I was really scared at that moment,' wrote one friend. 'A YouTuber once said that number 11 is an alien code,' wrote another. One user wrote, 'There must be something hidden behind this for sure.' Another user found the coincidence 'unbelievable'.
