AN UNFORGETTABLE FLIGHT

Thai singer Ruangsak 'James' Loychusak shares how a 1998 Thai Airways crash impacted his mental and physical health

- STORY: SHREYAA SRIVASTAVA

When Ruangsak “James” Loychusak saw news of the recent Air India plane crash, he was reminded of a similar incident that took place 27 years ago.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survivor of the June's plane crash, was seated in 11A. In 1998, Ruangsak was also seated in 11A when Thai Airways Flight 261, an Airbus A310-300 en route from Bangkok to Surat Thani, crashed leaving 101 people dead and 45 others injured.

Although the two incidents took place 27 years apart, the fact that both survivors had the same seat sparked discussion on it being miraculous and how the fatal incident left emotional scars and trauma.

"I lived with an intense fear of heights, fear of flying and fears triggered by even the smallest sounds that reminded me of that day. The memories echoed in my ears, lingered in my mind and became part of my daily life. As someone in the public eye, I could never escape talking about it. And each time I told the story, I had to relive it again and again. It was as if the trauma never truly ended," Ruangsak said.

Ruangsak explained how the event was traumatic, both physically and emotionally. "Some passengers lost limbs, some lost their lives and those who survived, like myself, were left with wounds that ran deeper than what was visible." Physically, Ruangsak spent two full years in recovery dealing with broken bones, bleeding in the brain and damage to his lungs.