The only survivor of the plane crash that killed more than 240 people yesterday in Ahmedabad, western India, managed to survive by jumping through the door, according to Indian police.

"He was near the emergency exit and managed to escape by jumping through the door," said police officer Vidhi Chaudhary in Ahmedabad, quoted by the local press.

Ramesh Viswashkumar, 40, who was traveling in seat 11A of the Boeing 787-8, has been hospitalized.

The Air India plane, flight AI171, had 242 people on board, including 12 crew members.

Police authorities have not yet been able to clarify whether he jumped before or after the impact.

It should be noted that the flight was on its way to London and crashed a few minutes after take-off.

The aircraft hit the accommodation of a medical school in a residential area around lunchtime. More than 240 people died, according to the police.

Viswashkumar was born in India, but has British citizenship. In an interview at the hospital, he said he was returning with his brother to the UK after visiting his family in India.

"When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I got scared. I got up and ran. There were pieces of the plane everywhere. Someone held me, put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital," he told the Hindustan Times.

Image DR