In a devastating accident involving Air India Flight 171, all passengers, crew members, and the pilot lost their lives, leaving only one survivor, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh. His miraculous escape from this tragic event has astonished many, rekindling faith in divine intervention and miracles. Vishwas Kumar managed to overcome numerous obstacles to emerge alive from the wreckage, despite the crash claiming 241 lives.
Following the crash, Vishwas Kumar was able to escape from the front section of the aircraft. He was seated in a part of the plane that is generally considered less safe during emergencies compared to the rear. Currently, he is recuperating from his injuries at a local hospital. In an interview with a news channel, he recounted, "The side of the plane I was on landed next to a hostel. When the door broke open, I saw a way out and attempted to escape. The other side was blocked by the hostel, and I realized there was a narrow exit where I was seated."
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed near a medical students' hostel in Ahmedabad, with the 11th row located just behind the exit doors and in front of business class seats. Vishwas was seated in 11A, a window seat adjacent to the exit, with the cabin crew's seats directly in front of him.
"Everything happened right before my eyes. I couldn't believe I survived. For a moment, I thought I was going to die," Kumar shared in a video interview. "However, when I opened my eyes, I realized I was alive. I unbuckled my seatbelt and tried to exit the plane. In front of me, an air hostess and several passengers were lifeless."
Several factors may have contributed to Kumar's survival. While there is no definitive answer to which seat is the safest, statistical data suggests that the rear of the aircraft is generally safer. Kumar was seated just in front of the wing box area, which is structurally stronger than other parts of the plane. The section where he sat impacted the ground, while the rear remained above the hostel, potentially absorbing some of the crash's force. Crucially, there was an exit door to his left, providing a clear escape route.
According to statistics, the front section of an aircraft, where Kumar was seated, is considered less safe compared to the rear. A study published by a prominent magazine analyzed 35 years of accident data and found that passengers seated in the back experienced lower fatality rates. The study indicated that the death rate for seats in the rear third of the aircraft was 32%, while the middle third had a 39% rate, and the front third had a 38% rate.
In April 2012, a television studio team simulated a plane crash in Mexico, revealing that passengers seated at the front faced the highest risk, while those near the wings had a better chance of survival. Another study conducted by a popular science magazine in 2007 found that the survival rate for passengers seated near the rear of the wings was 69%, compared to 56% for those in the middle and 49% for those in the front.
These statistical trends are specific to the circumstances of each accident. In some cases, such as when the rear of the aircraft strikes the ground first, fatalities may be higher in the back. Conversely, when the front or middle sections endure the brunt of the impact, those seated in the rear may have a better chance of survival. It is essential to note that the FAA has consistently stated that no section of an aircraft is inherently safer than another, and the most crucial action passengers can take for their safety is to follow crew instructions.