Seat 11A: The Lone Survivor of Air India Flight 171

Philip C. Johnson

June 14, 2025

The headlines are packed full of big stories right now given the volatility of the Middle East and questions of America’s deeper involvement in a conflict with Iran. And certainly I will return to that subject. Those that follow my writing know that I write in bursts – usually between my international travel for Global Next. There are weeks where I write nothing at all and then weeks where I am compelled to write multiple times on that which I find important. When global events and the absence of jet lag coincide, my readers will get more from me that they probably want.

All the same, I want to share my thoughts on the recent tragedy that was the June 12th crash of Air India Flight 171. The flight, headed to London, took off from Ahmedabad, India, with 242 people on board – passengers and crew. Shortly after takeoff, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college hostel, killing 241 people on board and at least five on the ground. Everyone on the plane died, except for Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin.

The Survivor

Ramesh, a businessman living in the UK since 2003, was traveling with his brother Ajay, seated in 11J, who did not survive. Positioned by an emergency exit in economy class, Ramesh’s survival hinged on three factors:

1.) Seating Position: His window seat in the first exit row was on the aircraft’s left side, which hit the hostel’s ground floor with less force. The damaged emergency door near him created a small escape route.

2.) Quick Action: Despite disorientation, Ramesh unbuckled his seatbelt, pushed through the opening, and crawled out, escaping the fireball fueled by 125,000 liters of jet fuel.

3.) Structural Factors: His section of the plane avoided the worst of the impact, unlike the rest, which was consumed by fire.

A Christian Perspective: God’s Sovereignty and the Fragility of Life

The phrase “not his time to die” resonates deeply with a Christian worldview, which holds that God is sovereign over life and death. Psalm 139:16 declares, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” This verse reminds us that God has ordained the number of our days, and Ramesh’s survival – against overwhelming odds – points to the mystery of divine providence. While human factors like seating and quick action explain his escape, Christians see God’s hand in preserving his life, perhaps for purposes yet to be revealed.

The Bible also underscores the fragility and value of each day. James 4:14 warns, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” This truth calls us to cherish each moment and live with purpose, recognizing that no one is guaranteed tomorrow. In a world desensitized by the staggering loss of life in global conflicts – where thousands perish in wars across the Middle East and beyond – the singular story of Ramesh’s survival reawakens us to the sanctity of each individual life. As Jesus taught in Luke 12:7, “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” One life, one story, can recenter our perspective on the preciousness of every soul.

For Christians, Ramesh’s survival is not merely a stroke of luck but a reminder to trust in God’s sovereign plan while embracing the call to live faithfully today. His escape through a narrow opening of the aircraft emergency exit door echoes the biblical imagery of the “narrow gate” (Matthew 7:13-14), urging us to reflect on our own mortality and the urgency of aligning our lives with God’s purposes. And most importantly, making sure that you have a relationship with God through His son, Jesus: the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)