Mike Banning survives the explosion because he and President Asher escape at the last second by jumping down a shaft just before the building is blown up, and Banning had already planted explosives to trigger the destruction after their escape. The blast kills Kamran and the remaining terrorists, not Banning or Asher.

What happens

  • Banning infiltrates the terrorists’ headquarters to stop Kamran from killing Asher on live TV.
  • During the escape, Banning tells the SAS commander to blow up the building.
  • He and Asher drop down a shaft, reaching safety before the fireball engulfs the structure.

Why he lives

The scene is written as a last-second action escape: Banning uses timing, cover, and the building’s internal layout to get below the blast zone just in time. The explosion is meant to destroy the enemy stronghold after they get out, not trap them inside it.

If you want, I can also explain the whole ending of London Has Fallen in a quick scene-by-scene way.