• Source:JND
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In an irony of fate, what is often referred to as the "most hated seat" on a Boeing 787-8 proved to be the sole safe location during Thursday's horrific Air India crash. British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 45, was assigned seat 11A, a window seat emergency exit row, when AI171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed just seconds after departure, killing 241 passengers and crew on board. Ramesh, miraculously alive, was later discovered limping along the streets of a residential area in Ahmedabad, surrounded by debris and bodies of fellow travelers.

What Is Seat 11A And Why Is It 'Most Hated'?

Seat 11A has had a bad reputation for years among regular flyers. Generally placed close to the emergency exit in the front rows of economy, travelers report it as one of the most inconsiderate seats for reasons like,
• Delayed deboarding: Being mid-aircraft means you’re among the last to exit.
• Poor window views: Due to structural design and placement of air conditioning units, the window is sometimes blocked or missing.
• Cabin crew traffic: The seat lies close to the galley, making it a high-traffic, noisy zone during flights.

American Airlines flight attendants told The Sun that 11A and 11F are among the least preferred seats for these very reasons. Yet, the seat being near the exit door have been the key to Ramesh's survival. Based on Air India's Boeing 787-8 seating chart, seat 11A is among six seats in economy class' first row, situated immediately at the rear of the business cabin and next to the left-side emergency exit. This location could possibly have provided Ramesh with quicker access to an exit before the plane became fully ablaze. Air India currently operates 27 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, each configured with 18 business class and 238 economy class seats.

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A 2015 Time Magazine review of 35 years of FAA records determined that the rear third of an airplane had the lowest death rate. Occupants in seats over the wings and aisle seats midway had the worst survival rates, with a 44% death risk. On the other hand, a 2008 University of Greenwich research discovered that sitting within five rows of an emergency exit significantly enhances chances of survival, irrespective of the type of aircraft or nature of the crash."It is all about the dynamics of the crash," responded aviation safety analyst Daniel Kwasi Adjekum. "Where you sit only makes a difference if you have an opportunity to exit rapidly," he added.image (100)

Seating arrangement in a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Credit: Seatguru

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During his short exchange with rescue officials, Ramesh described how the trouble started just 30 seconds after takeoff. The plane, which was headed to London, dived into a populated residential area, disintegrating and bursting into flames almost instantly. Investigations are underway to determine if a technical malfunction after the refurbishment might have led to the fatal crash. The plane had been serviced recently, and officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Boeing are conducting an investigation together. Air India confirmed that its entire 27-strong Boeing 787-8 fleet would be subject to intense safety audits and refits over the coming months.