The bizarre and moving coincidence involving seat 11A has captured global attention—linking two tragedies nearly three decades apart and uniting two men through an unthinkable twist of fate.
✈️ The Coincidence
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Ruangsak Loychusak, a Thai actor and singer, survived the crash of Thai Airways Flight TG261 in 1998, seated in 11A.
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In 2025, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, was the only survivor of the Air India Flight AI171 crash. He, too, was in seat 11A.
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Upon learning about Ramesh’s survival and seat number, Ruangsak wrote:
“Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A.”
📆 Two Tragedies, Same Seat
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TG261 Crash (1998):
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Aircraft: Thai Airways domestic flight
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Casualties: 101 killed, 45 survived
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Cause: Stall during approach to Surat Thani Airport
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Ruangsak was 20 years old; his survival, especially from 11A, was widely reported in Thai media.
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AI171 Crash (2025):
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Aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departed from Ahmedabad
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Casualties: 241 killed, 1 survivor
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Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was seated near the emergency exit (11A) and was thrown clear of the aircraft, enabling his miraculous survival.
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🧠 Trauma, Guilt & “Second Life”
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Ruangsak has openly spoken about the psychological toll of surviving when so many others didn’t. He suffered from survivor’s guilt, PTSD, and avoided flying for 10 years.
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He has referred to everything after the crash as his “second life”, and offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the AI171 victims.
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The parallel events clearly stirred deep personal emotions: Ruangsak reportedly had goosebumps when he learned about the eerie connection to Ramesh.
🚑 Ramesh’s Narrow Escape
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Ramesh recalled how he thought he was going to die, then realized he was still strapped to his seat but outside the wreckage.
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Despite multiple fractures and injuries, he walked into an ambulance without assistance.
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He said, “I don’t know how I survived. Everyone else died. It’s a miracle.”
🌐 Public Fascination: The “Miracle Seat”
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The story of seat 11A has gone viral, especially as the only two people to have survived deadly plane crashes while seated in it were:
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Decades apart
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On different continents
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In near-identical aircraft configurations
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This has sparked a surge in online searches and booking interest for emergency exit seats, especially 11A, with people on social media dubbing it the “lucky seat.”
✨ Final Thoughts
While aviation experts warn against reading too much into coincidences, this story is a profound reminder of fate, fragility, and resilience. Both Ruangsak and Ramesh now symbolize hope in the face of catastrophe—linked by a seat number, but even more by their sheer will to survive.
