Air India crash simulation reveals how sole survivor escaped

A 40-year-old British man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was the sole survivor of the Air India Flight AI171 crash on June 12, which killed 241 passengers.

The flight took off from Ahmedabad Airport, India, headed for London Gatwick, but crashed shortly after takeoff.

The experienced pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, made a final distress call reporting loss of power.

A simulation suggests Kumar Ramesh survived either by escaping through the emergency exit while the plane was descending or after the crash before the fire started.

Kumar Ramesh, interviewed from his hospital bed, described unbuckling himself and pushing open a door amid wreckage and bodies. Despite witnessing death around him and losing his brother in the crash, he managed to escape and reach help. He recalled loud noises and flickering lights just after takeoff and still struggles to believe he survived walking out of the rubble.