23 hours ago
Last Updated:June 12, 2025, 18:54 IST
In 1985, Vesna Vulović entered the Guinness World Records for surviving the highest fall without a parachute. She was widely celebrated across Yugoslavia for her survival
Out of the 27 passengers and crew, Vesna Vulović was the sole survivor. (Instagram/@some.amazing.facts)
In a devastating tragedy, over 200 people on board an Air India flight AI171 (Boeing 787 Dreamliner) are feared dead after the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff near Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The flight, bound for London, was carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members when it went down at approximately 1:17 PM.
While the cause of the crash is yet to be officially confirmed, the scale of the tragedy has drawn parallels to past aviation disasters.
One such incident was the 1972 crash of JAT Yugoslav Airlines Flight 367, which remains etched in aviation history for an extraordinary reason. On 26 January that year, the aircraft was cruising at 33,330 feet over Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) when a suspected bomb exploded, ripping the plane apart mid-air.
Among those on board was 22-year-old flight attendant Vesna Vulović, who miraculously survived the fall—without a parachute—making her story one of the most remarkable in the history of aviation disasters.
Interestingly, Vesna was not even supposed to be on that flight. She got the duty due to a mix-up with another flight attendant, also named Vesna. But what seemed like an error turned out to be the biggest miracle of her life.
On that fateful day, as the plane flew at an altitude of 33,330 feet over Czechoslovakia, a bomb exploded on board. Croatian nationalists were suspected to be behind the attack. The explosion tore the aircraft into pieces, and it crashed into the snow-covered hills below.
Out of the 27 passengers and crew, Vesna was the sole survivor. She was reportedly found trapped in the middle section of the plane, pinned by a food cart that remained attached to part of the tail. The snowy terrain and dense forest may have helped cushion the impact.
According to reports, her low blood pressure may have helped her heart withstand the shock. A local man named Bruno Honke discovered her unconscious and administered first aid, ultimately saving her life.
Vesna was severely injured in the accident. She suffered a fractured skull, spinal cord injuries, broken legs and ribs, and a shattered pelvis, leaving her temporarily paralysed from the waist down. She remained in a coma for nearly a month and had no memory of the explosion or the fall. After undergoing several surgeries, she was discharged from the hospital by June 1972 and eventually began walking again.
Her miraculous survival made headlines worldwide. In 1985, Vesna was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records for surviving the highest fall without a parachute. In Yugoslavia, she was widely celebrated and admired for her extraordinary survival. Then-President Josip Broz Tito personally praised her. A song was even composed in her honour, titled “Vesna the Stewardess."
The Air India plane that crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday was reportedly carrying a full load of fuel for its long-haul journey to London, which intensified the explosion on impact. Dense black smoke rose high into the sky, visible even from Vastrapur, triggering panic across nearby localities.
Emergency crews, including fire services, medical teams, and security personnel, reached the site swiftly to begin rescue and containment efforts. An emergency control centre was set up soon after the crash, with support teams working to assist the families of those on board.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the airline is extending all possible support and has initiated a thorough investigation in collaboration with aviation regulators.
Location :Czech Republic
First Published:News world This Woman Survived A Mid-Air Blast At 22, Survived Without A Parachute
