In what can only be described as a miraculous escape, Bhoomi Chauhan, a London-based woman visiting India, missed boarding Air India flight AI-171 by just ten minutes—only to find out later that the same aircraft crashed into a residential area near Ahmedabad, killing many onboard.
According to a report by Republic TV, Chauhan had arrived late at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport due to traffic and missed her flight to London. “I am completely devastated after hearing about the loss. My body is literally shivering. I am not being able to talk,” she told reporters, still in shock.
Chauhan said she left the airport around 1:30 pm. Just eight minutes later, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off at 1:38 pm and crashed minutes after, hitting a hostel at BJ Medical College, where several young doctors were reportedly having lunch. “Just because of those ten minutes, I could not board the flight. I don’t know how to explain this,” she said, adding, “My Ganpati Bappa saved me.”
The Air India flight, bound for London Gatwick, had 242 people onboard, including 169 Indian nationals. The aircraft, which had arrived from Delhi earlier in the day, reportedly reached 625 feet before it rapidly descended and exploded into a fireball.
Thursday’s tragedy is one of the worst crashes involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, considered one of the most advanced widebody jets globally. Investigations are underway as rescue teams continue to recover remains and assess the extent of damage on the ground.