Bhoomi Chauhan, a 28-year-old business administration student living in Bristol, had just returned to India for a holiday when she faced a frustrating delay that would ultimately save her life. On her way to Ahmedabad airport for her Air India flight to London Gatwick, heavy traffic impeded her journey, causing her to arrive just after the boarding process had begun.
"I left for the airport without anticipating such a delay," Chauhan recounted. "We were stuck in traffic, and by the time we arrived, it was too late. I was deeply disappointed when airline staff turned me away."
The heart-wrenching turn of events came mere moments after she and her husband, who had traveled from Ankleshwar, had left the airport in dismay. While discussing refund options with a travel agent over tea, her phone rang with the news she could scarcely believe—AI171 had crashed shortly after taking off, claiming the lives of 241 passengers and crew members.
"I couldn't believe it; it's a miracle that I'm alive," she continued, reflecting on how a hectic journey home turned into an extraordinary twist of fate. Despite being in possession of her boarding pass, airline personnel could not permit her to board the flight so close to its departure time.
The ill-fated flight, which took off on schedule, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, hitting a residential area and leaving destruction in its wake. Most of the fatalities were passengers and crew, though there were also civilian casualties reported on the ground.
Emergency responders worked tirelessly through the night to recover victims, with many families grieved and searching for answers. Among the deceased were 53 British citizens, some of whom were known to have connections in Gloucester and London. One survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was treated in the hospital for injuries, which underlines the sheer and tragic randomness of the day's events.
As investigations into the crash continue, Chauhan remains grateful for her close call, expressing her heartfelt sorrow for those who were not as lucky. "I can only pray for the families who are going through this unimaginable pain," she said.
"I left for the airport without anticipating such a delay," Chauhan recounted. "We were stuck in traffic, and by the time we arrived, it was too late. I was deeply disappointed when airline staff turned me away."
The heart-wrenching turn of events came mere moments after she and her husband, who had traveled from Ankleshwar, had left the airport in dismay. While discussing refund options with a travel agent over tea, her phone rang with the news she could scarcely believe—AI171 had crashed shortly after taking off, claiming the lives of 241 passengers and crew members.
"I couldn't believe it; it's a miracle that I'm alive," she continued, reflecting on how a hectic journey home turned into an extraordinary twist of fate. Despite being in possession of her boarding pass, airline personnel could not permit her to board the flight so close to its departure time.
The ill-fated flight, which took off on schedule, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, hitting a residential area and leaving destruction in its wake. Most of the fatalities were passengers and crew, though there were also civilian casualties reported on the ground.
Emergency responders worked tirelessly through the night to recover victims, with many families grieved and searching for answers. Among the deceased were 53 British citizens, some of whom were known to have connections in Gloucester and London. One survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was treated in the hospital for injuries, which underlines the sheer and tragic randomness of the day's events.
As investigations into the crash continue, Chauhan remains grateful for her close call, expressing her heartfelt sorrow for those who were not as lucky. "I can only pray for the families who are going through this unimaginable pain," she said.
