A resident of Gujarat's Bharuch, Bhoomi Chauhan, visited India after two years and missed her Air India flight to London by 10 minutes due to being stuck in traffic in Ahmedabad. Chauhan said she missed her flight and was “still shivering” thinking about her lucky escape.

Air India flight AI 171 crashed seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 1:30 pm. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board, only one survived.

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Bhoomi Chauhan said, "We arrived at the check-in gate 10 minutes late, but they didn't allow me, and I returned. They said that it would delay the flight further. I was late because of traffic in the Ahmedabad city area. When I came to know that the flight had crashed, I was totally numb. I thank my mother Goddess that I am safe, but the incident is absolutely terrifying."

Chauhan added that she left Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 pm after missing her flight. The London-bound Air India flight took off at approximately 1:38 pm and crashed just minutes later in a residential area near the airport.

"The flight was scheduled to take off at 1.10pm. I was not allowed to board the aircraft and was really upset," she said. "I had reached the airport exit when I learnt the plane had crashed. My Ganpati ji saved me." 

Chauhan was scheduled to fly back to London alone on the Air India flight. She had come to India for a vacation after two years and lives with her husband in London. “Just because of those ten minutes, I couldn’t board the flight. I don’t know how to explain this,” she said.

Bhoomi’s mother said she had left her child at home and was supposed to fly alone. "We thank God for protecting my daughter. She left her child with me, and it's all because of God's blessings; because of that child, she is with me. By God's grace she returned home safely," she said. 

Lone Survivor Ramesh Kumar 

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British-Indian, was the only survivor aboard the ill-fated aircraft. The remaining 239 passengers, two pilots, and 10 crew members were killed in the crash.

Officials said Air India flight AI 171 crashed shortly after taking off at around 1:30 pm on Thursday, crashing into the residential quarters of doctors at BJ Medical College in the Meghaninagar area. The plane combusted in a fiery blaze, sending thick plumes of black smoke spiraling into the air.

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The aircraft, which was just 12 years old, had flown in from Delhi a few hours before the crash. The pilot issued a 'Mayday' distress call, indicating a full emergency, soon after takeoff, Air Traffic Control in Ahmedabad reported.

The Centre has formed a high-level committee to investigate the crash, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said.


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