Bhoomi Chauhan, a 28-year-old business administration student residing in Bristol, has described her near-miss with a tragic flight crash as a miracle. Returning from a holiday in western India, she was delayed by heavy traffic on her way to Ahmedabad airport and arrived just 10 minutes late for her Air India flight to London Gatwick.
The flight, AI171, took off on Thursday afternoon but crashed mere seconds into its journey, killing a total of 241 people onboard, along with several casualties in the residential area it struck. Upon realizing her late arrival at 12:20 PM local time, just after boarding had begun, airline staff refused her entry to the plane despite her attempts to plead for permission, citing her digital boarding pass assignment to seat 36G.
Reflecting on the situation, Chauhan expressed frustration with the traffic that delayed her departure from Ankleshwar, located about 201 km away from Ahmedabad. "If I had started a little early, I would have boarded the plane," she lamented.
Approximately an hour after her departure from the airport, she received a call informing her of the flight's tragic fate. This unfortunate incident left the aviation community reeling and raised questions about air safety, as investigations began into the causes of the crash. Among the victims were individuals of various nationalities, including British and Indian citizens, with efforts underway to identify the deceased and assist bereaved family members.
In what has turned out to be a heart-wrenching reminder of the unforeseen nature of travel, Chauhan's story serves as a poignant delineation of fate and chance, compelling her to view her close escape through a lens of gratitude.
