The miracle of seat 11A: Man who survived Ahmedabad tragedy shared same seat number as Thai survivor of 1998 airplane crash
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."
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by Taboola
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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 Wela...James, 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.
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