What began as a frustrating day for Bhoomi Chauhan ended as the most surreal—and perhaps miraculous—moment of her life.
The 28-year-old student, who lives in Bristol with her husband, was meant to board Air India Flight AI171 to London Gatwick on Thursday.
Instead, she missed it by just minutes—and that twist of fate may have saved her life.
The plane, a Boeing 777, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 passengers and 12 crew members onboard, as well as at least eight people on the ground.
The tragedy has plunged India and parts of the global diaspora into mourning.
But Chauhan, still reeling from the close call, is left with a profound sense of disbelief and gratitude.
“We were furious at our driver. I remember being so angry because we were stuck in traffic and missed the flight by just ten minutes,” Chauhan told BBC Gujarati. “At the time, I was so disappointed—now, I know I witnessed a miracle.”
Chauhan had been in India visiting family in Ankleshwar, roughly 200 kilometers south of Ahmedabad. That morning, she and her husband made the road journey north, aiming to catch their Air India flight scheduled for early afternoon.
But congested traffic in Ahmedabad’s city center slowed their progress to a crawl. By the time they reached the airport at 12:20 PM—just ten minutes after boarding began—airline staff refused to let them proceed.
“Even though I had checked in online and had my boarding pass—seat 36G—they wouldn’t let me on,” she said. “I begged them, told them I was the last passenger, but they said it was too late.”
Frustrated and bitter, the couple left the terminal and found a nearby tea stall to calm their nerves and call their travel agent about a refund.
That’s when the phone rang.
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“We were discussing ticket options when we got the call that the plane had crashed,” Chauhan recalled. “It felt like the world stood still. We were supposed to be on that flight.”
Flight AI171 departed Ahmedabad as scheduled but struggled to gain altitude. Within 30 seconds, it nosedived into a densely populated residential area on the city’s outskirts, sparking a massive explosion and fire.
Emergency services responded rapidly, but the scale of the devastation was overwhelming. A steady stream of ambulances, fire trucks, and grief-stricken families crowded the site well into the night.
Officials confirmed the deaths of all but one passenger: British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who miraculously survived and is currently being treated for serious injuries.
Among the deceased were at least 53 Britons, including an entire family from Gloucester, a trio of relatives from London, and a married couple known for running a spiritual wellness centre in the UK capital.
As investigators comb through the wreckage to determine the cause of the crash, nations across the globe—including India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada—mourn the lives lost.
For Chauhan, the near-miss has left her deeply shaken.
“This experience has changed me forever,” she said. “I still can’t believe I’m alive. It’s nothing short of divine intervention.”