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Air India Plane Crash Survivor: Seat 11A, in the first row of economy near the main cabin, washroom, and a cabin divider, may have offered some protection during the crash
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, sustained injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet. (PTI/File)
Air India Plane Crash Survivor: In a devastating tragedy, Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Remarkably, one passenger survived, sparking intense debate and speculation over how he managed to stay alive—particularly focusing on the seat he occupied.
The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was seated in 11A—a window seat on the left side of the aircraft—and sustained only minor injuries. Located in the first row of economy class, near the main cabin, a washroom, and a cabin divider, the seat may have provided some degree of protection during the crash, according to aviation experts. While Boeing aircraft generally follow a standard layout, airlines often customise seat configurations based on operational needs.
Seat 11A is also considered a light safety zone due to its design features, which include increased legroom, a larger seat pitch, and a reinforced seat frame compared to standard economy seats. These seats are generally more comfortable than those in the rest of the economy class.
According to aviation experts, several factors are believed to have contributed to Ramesh’s survival:
- According to experts, seat 11A is positioned slightly behind and to the left of the aircraft’s front section. In crashes that occur shortly after takeoff, the cockpit and midbody areas typically sustain the most damage. In such scenarios, passengers seated in window-side and slightly offset positions—like 11A—are believed to have a higher chance of survival.
- Business or premium class seats are built with enhanced safety features, including shock-absorbing materials, reinforced backing, and fire-retardant upholstery. These elements help reduce the risk of impact injuries and burns during an accident.
- Experts note that proximity to an exit door can significantly increase the chances of survival in a crash, as it allows for a quicker evacuation. If seat 11A was near an emergency exit, it’s possible that Ramesh was able to escape before smoke and fire spread through the cabin.
According to flight safety agencies, passengers seated at the rear of an aircraft have a 69% higher chance of survival. Those sitting near a window or close to an emergency exit are also considered relatively safer, as the proximity to the exit allows for quicker evacuation. However, experts caution that these are general statistics, and every crash is different.
In the case of Ramesh, luck is believed to have played a major role. Some analysts suggest that properly wearing his seatbelt may have also contributed to his survival.
Aircraft safety agencies suggest that passengers in the back seats have a 69% chance of survival. Those seated near a window or emergency exit are considered to be in safer positions. However, every accident is unique, and luck likely played a significant role in Ramesh’s survival. It is also noted that he was properly wearing his seatbelt.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, sustained injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet, and was seen limping away from the wreckage in videos that quickly went viral. His clothes bore blood stains and soot marks, evidence of the ordeal he had just endured.
Ramesh had been returning to London after visiting family in Gujarat. Speaking from his hospital bed, he described the harrowing scene: “There were bodies all around me… pieces of the plane everywhere. Someone pulled me into an ambulance,” he told News18.
Tragically, Ramesh’s brother, who was also on the flight, did not survive. Their other brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, told Sky News that Ramesh had managed to call their father in Leicester moments after the crash, still in disbelief over how he survived.
“He video-called my dad and said, ‘The plane’s crashed. I don’t know where my brother is. I don’t see anyone else. I don’t know how I’m alive,’” Nayan said, calling the survival a miracle but expressing anguish over the loss.
Medical staff quoted by Sky News said Ramesh recalled being thrown from the aircraft as it broke apart shortly after takeoff. He reportedly landed near debris and managed to walk to an ambulance for help, moments before the wreckage exploded.
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