Second ‘11A’ miracle: British man changes ill-fated Air India flight, books same seat two days later

A British man who was supposed to board the ill-fated Air India Flight AI171 on Thursday narrowly escaped the tragedy after postponing his trip. Coincidentally, he had been assigned the same seat ‘11A’ on the same flight on Saturday.

According to British tabloid The Sun, Owen Jackson, 31, from Saffron Walden in Essex, had been in India for work and was scheduled to return home on Thursday. However, due to a busy work schedule, his colleagues suggested he delay his departure to Saturday. 

The only survivor of the Ahmedabad crash was Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, the very same seat Owen had booked for the Saturday flight.

When Owen heard the news of the crash, he was in shock. He reportedly said that he feels more grateful than anyone else. It’s a weird coincidence. To think that the plane you were supposed to board crashed.

Owen’s wife shared that she had no idea he had changed his travel plans. When she couldn’t reach him after hearing the news of the crash, she feared the worst.

She told The Sun that she was completely unaware that he had postponed the flight. He wasn’t answering his phone because he was in a meeting, and she was randomly bursting into tears.

She reportedly added, "The way we felt is nothing compared to what the victims and their families are going through. My heart truly goes out to them. It’s just an awful incident."