New Delhi, June 14: In a striking coincidence, Thai singer Ruangsak Loychusak, 47, who survived a plane crash in 1998 while seated in 11A, has expressed his shock after learning that the sole survivor of the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad also sat in seat 11A.

Ruangsak was aboard Thai Airways flight TG261 from Bangkok to Surat Thani when it crashed into a swamp during landing, killing 101 of 132 passengers and crew. He recalled having “goosebumps” after hearing about British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of Air India flight AI171, who was also in seat 11A when the jet exploded into a building just after takeoff.

Ruangsak said that while he no longer has his boarding pass, newspaper archives confirmed his seat number. He shared how the 1998 crash haunted him for a decade—struggling to breathe on flights, fearing stormy skies, and vividly remembering the swamp water’s smell and taste.

Meanwhile, 40-year-old Ramesh, from Leicester, survived the Ahmedabad crash by being ejected from the aircraft before it hit the ground. He described the jet as “stuck” moments after takeoff before it slammed into a building and erupted in flames. Injured but conscious, Ramesh escaped the wreckage and was rushed to hospital. Tragically, his brother, who was also onboard, is presumed dead.

Ramesh recalled waking up surrounded by bodies, running from the wreckage, and being rescued by bystanders. He also recounted how the emergency door next to his seat had come off during impact, helping him escape.

The Air India crash claimed 243 lives out of 244 onboard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later met Ramesh and other survivors in hospital.

The shared seat number between the two survivors—11A—adds a haunting twist to both tragedies.

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