Seat 11A draws attention after sole survivor of Air India crash walks away

Indian authorities ordered all Boeing 787s operated by local carriers to be inspected on Saturday, following Thursday's Air India crash. — Image credit: Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images

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Summary

Seat 11A

Viswash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India crash, was seated in seat 11A, prompting speculation about whether the seat contributed to his survival.

Survival a matter of chance

Aviation investigators emphasize that in severe crashes, survival is mostly random and not determined by seat location, despite 11A being in an exit row.

Boeing 787 inspections

Following the crash that killed 270 people, Indian authorities have ordered all locally operated Boeing 787s to be inspected as a precaution.

Full story

Indian authorities ordered all Boeing 787s being operated by local carriers to be inspected on Saturday, June 14. The call comes after an Air India crash killed 270 people this week, according to Reuters. The London-bound flight struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, June 12.

Viswash Kumar Ramesh, 38, the sole survivor of the crash, continues to recover in the hospital. “He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,” Dr. Dhaval Gameti told the Associated Press on Saturday.

Safest seat on a plane

Gamesh was seated in seat 11A when the plane crashed. Many wonder if that seat saved his life. Aviation experts tell the New York Times — probably not.

“If you’re in a crash, all bets are off,” said Jeff Guzzetti, a former accident investigator for the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. “So pick whatever seat you want to make you feel comfortable.”

Seat 11A was in an exit row on the left side of the plane. Upon impact, the right side of the plane was crushed.

In an emergency like a fire, when “you’re still sitting on your landing gear and the airplane is pretty much upright and intact,” an exit row may offer the quickest path to safety, Guzzetti said. “But with regard to the crash dynamics of an accident like Air India, I think it’s just a matter of chance.”

US sending aid

The U.S. is sending investigators to the crash site as the aircraft was American-made. Currently, it’s unclear what caused the plane to plummet shortly after takeoff, but Air India stated that the crew issued a mayday call shortly after departure.

Relatives of the crash victims expressed frustration Saturday that the identification process was taking too long. Authorities say it normally takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA matching, and they are expediting the process.

Tags: Boeing, India, plane crash

Why this story matters

The Air India Boeing 787 crash, resulting in the deaths of 270 people and prompting nationwide inspections of the aircraft type, raises questions about aviation safety, international cooperation in crash investigations and the process of victim identification.

Aviation safety

The crash led Indian authorities to order inspections of all Boeing 787 aircraft operated by local carriers to assess potential safety risks.

Crash investigation

The ongoing investigation, which involves both Indian and U.S. officials due to the American-made aircraft, underlines the complexity and international scope of major air disaster probes.

Victim identification

Relatives' frustration with the time-consuming DNA matching process highlights the challenges facing authorities in quickly and accurately identifying victims after large-scale disasters.

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Community reaction

Local communities in Ahmedabad, especially families of victims and staff at B.J. Medical College, have expressed grief and frustration, particularly over delays in identifying the deceased and returning bodies for burial. Medical staff are working overtime on identification. Some families voiced anguish at the lack of information from authorities and the slow, painstaking identification process.

Context corner

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was launched as a fuel-efficient, technologically advanced long-haul aircraft made with significant composite materials. Its early years saw technical issues — including lithium-ion battery fires that led to a global grounding in 2013. Air India, the airline involved, was privatized in 2022 and is seeking to rebuild its reputation after years of financial and operational difficulties.

Debunking

Some reports highlight claims about maintenance issues and technical glitches on the downed aircraft prior to the crash. Aviation experts clarify that common in-flight entertainment or air conditioning malfunctions reported by prior passengers are not unusual and, based on current information, there is no evidence tying these routine issues directly to the cause of the crash. Investigations continue.

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left frame the Boeing 787 crash with heightened scrutiny on corporate accountability and safety failures, emphasizing emotionally charged terms like "deadly," "disaster," and spotlighting whistleblower allegations that link Boeing’s manufacturing practices to potential negligence.
Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
Media outlets on the right balance acknowledgment of past “safety concerns” and “shortcuts” with affirmations of the 787’s “strong safety record,” often contextualizing the crash within Boeing’s broader corporate challenges, such as the 737 MAX crises, while suggesting governmental leniency may have played a role.

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Media landscape

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Key points from the Left

A Boeing 787 operated by Air India crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 241 lives and leaving only one survivor.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India will investigate the crash, which is the first of a Boeing 787 globally, as stated by India's Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Regulatory inspections of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet have been ordered by the directorate general of civil aviation following the crash.
Boeing expressed condolences and is in touch with Air India to support the ongoing investigation into the crash.

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Key points from the Center

Air India Flight AI171, a Dreamliner aircraft carrying 242 individuals, crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of 241 passengers.
The crash occurred in a residential area near a medical college, prompting investigations into engine thrust, flap issues and why the landing gear stayed open as the aircraft descended rapidly.
Investigators from India, the U.K. and the U.S. have joined the probe, recovering the flight data recorder from the crash site, while rescue teams searched for missing persons and aircraft parts.
India's aviation regulator mandated immediate safety checks on all Air India Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft, including flight control inspections and power assurance checks to begin June 15, while the government considers grounding the fleet during the investigation.
Tata Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran pledged full transparency about the investigation findings, and GE Aerospace stated, “Safety is our top priority” amid this being the first Dreamliner crash since commercial operations began in 2011.

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Key points from the Right

On June 12, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board according to local authorities.
The crash marks the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 since its introduction, raising safety questions about the aircraft according to Aviation Safety Network.
Whistleblower John Barnett had previously raised significant safety concerns about Boeing's manufacturing practices, which have gained renewed attention following the crash.

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