Luggage is lined up in front of the TransAsia wreckageREUTERS
Lin Mingwei and his school teacher wife Jiang Yuying were travelling with their two-year-old son Lin Riyao on the TransAsia flight en route from Taiwanese capital Taipei to the island of Kinmen, near China's Xianmen.
Mr Lin asked to change seats to the right side after hearing a noise coming from the wing, according to the United Daily.
The newspaper said: "He was uncomfortable after he heard the noise."
It did not go into any further detail.
Following the ditching, Mr Mingwei plucked his son from the water and performed CPR on him.
The youngster was rushed to intensive care, where he remains.
Ms Jiang also suffered from several bone fractures.
The couple's young son spent more than 100 days in hospital after he was born prematurely two years ago.
The horrifying moment the plane smashed into a bridge
Mr Lin said: "I absolutely can't lose him again."
His bother, Chris Lin, added: "The pilot's immediate action saved many people.
"We all feel very lucky."
At least 32 people were killed after the Taiwan TransAsia plane crashed shortly after taking off from a Taipei airport at 10.55am local time (2:55am GMT) yesterday.
Some 12 people are still missing more than 24 hours after the crash.
Known survivors currently number 15.
Yeh Chun-hsing, an official with Taipei's fire department, said: "We have not found survivors or bodies of the 12 missing, but we will not give up.
"We'll continue to search."
