Bhoomi Chauhan, a 28-year-old business administration student, narrowly escaped the Air India crash that claimed 241 lives. She had been scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on flight AI171, but arrived at the airport 10 minutes after boarding was due to commence. Despite having checked in online and being assigned to economy class seat 36G, airline staff would not allow her to complete the process at the airport.
“I was very disappointed,” Ms. Chauhan recalls. “We got very angry with our driver and left the airport in frustration.” She had traveled from Ankleshwar, 201km south of Ahmedabad, before being held up in city centre traffic. “When I missed the flight, I was dejected,” she says. “Only thing that I had in mind was, ‘If I had started a little early, I would have boarded the plane’.”
Ms. Chauhan requested airline staff to allow her inside, explaining that she was only 10 minutes late and was the last passenger. However, they refused her request. “This is totally a miracle for me,” she adds, reflecting on her narrow escape. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and more on the ground. One passenger, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived the crash and was treated in hospital for injuries.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau working to determine the cause of the tragedy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site, describing the scene as “saddening”. Tributes have poured in from across the world, with condolences offered to the families of the victims. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders have also expressed their grief and support.
The Air India flight, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-piloted by Clive Kunder, had 242 people on board, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national. The plane, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff, causing widespread devastation.