The Wall Street Journal

How Does One Person Survive a Plane Crash?

The lone survivor of Air India Flight 171 was seated in an exit-row window seat

The crash site of Air India Flight 171 in western India on Thursday.
The crash site of Air India Flight 171 in western India on Thursday. Photo: Siddharaj Solanki/EPA/Shutterstock

When Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff, smashing into a residential building and bursting into flames, it seemed impossible that any of the 242 occupants could have survived.

Miraculously, one did—but how?

WSJ Logo