Thai singer Ruangsak Loychusak, who miraculously survived a deadly plane crash in 1998, has shared his astonishment upon learning that the only survivor of a recent Air India crash was seated in the very same seat he once occupied — seat 11A.
Now 47, Loychusak was one of 45 survivors of Thai Airways flight TG261, which crashed while trying to land in Surat Thani after taking off from Bangkok.
The tragic crash claimed 101 of the 146 passengers and crew after the aircraft stalled mid-air and plummeted into a swamp.
Over two decades later, another aviation tragedy struck—this time in India.
An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad, with British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, emerging as the sole survivor—remarkably, from seat 11A.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, Loychusak shared his reaction on Facebook, expressing disbelief over the uncanny coincidence.
“I got goosebumps when I saw it. The sole survivor of the plane crash in India was seated in the exact same seat number as I was — 11A. My condolences go out to all who lost loved ones in the tragedy,” he wrote.
While he no longer has the original boarding pass from the 1998 crash, newspaper reports from that time confirm he was indeed seated in 11A.
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Loychusak reflected on his experience of surviving the crash and the lasting emotional impact it had on him.
“I felt like I was given a second life after the crash. For a decade, flying was incredibly difficult. Even in normal air conditions, I struggled to breathe. I rarely spoke during flights and would always stare out the window. I never let anyone close it — it made me feel unsafe,” he recalled.
He also described how the traumatic memories lingered for years.
“I still remember everything — the sound of the crash, the smell of burning, even the taste of the swamp water. I carried those memories silently for a long time. Just seeing dark clouds or a thunderstorm would make me feel awful, like I was reliving a nightmare.”
