Bhoomi Chauhan, a woman from Gujarat, narrowly escaped death. She was supposed to board Air India Flight AI171 to London. However, she missed it by only ten minutes. Moments later, the flight crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad. As a result, 241 of the 242 people on board died. It became one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s history.

Standing outside her home in Bharuch, Bhoomi said emotionally, “I am thankful to God. My Ganpati Bappa saved me.”

Delay and Denial at the Airport

Earlier that day, Bhoomi had rushed to the airport but got stuck in heavy traffic. Because of this, she reached Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport just minutes before departure. Despite her efforts, airport staff did not allow her to board. She didn’t have a printed copy of her boarding pass.

“The flight was scheduled to take off at 1:10pm. The boarding procedure was over at 12:10pm and I reached at 12.20pm,” Bhoomi told NDTV. “I had reached the checking-in gate and requested them to allow me to board the flight. I told them I shall clear all the formalities quickly but they did not allow me to proceed.”

Though she pleaded, staff remained firm. “I missed the flight by only 10 minutes,” she said with tears. “I pleaded, but they didn’t allow me to board without the printout. I left the airport around 1:30 p.m. The flight took off around 1:38. It crashed just minutes later. I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling.”

After the Tragedy

At the time, Bhoomi had come to India after two years. She was returning alone to London to rejoin her husband. Soon after she stepped out of the airport, she heard about the crash. She said, “I was getting ready to step out of the airport when I learnt about the crash. I began shivering. My legs started trembling. I felt numb for quite some time.”

She added, “My mind is totally blank now after hearing all that has happened."

Later, she reached her home in Bharuch. Her mother, still in shock, believed divine forces saved Bhoomi. She told the media, “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.”

Crash Details Emerge

Meanwhile, reports confirmed that the aircraft was flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a highly trained pilot with over 8,200 flying hours. First Officer Clive Kundar had 1,100 hours of experience.

The plane departed at 1:39 pm IST from Runway 23. Within minutes, it issued a “Mayday” alert. Then, it lost contact with Air Traffic Control. Shortly after, it crashed outside the airport boundary, killing almost everyone on board.

One Man Survives Against All Odds

Amid the disaster, there was one miracle. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen of Indian origin, survived. Rescuers found him in seat 11A among the wreckage.

“There were bodies all around me, there were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance,” he told News18.

He clearly remembered the final seconds. “Within 30 seconds, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly."

Currently, Vishwash is recovering at the Civil Hospital in Asarwa. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed his condition. Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him on Friday to offer support.

Tragically, Vishwash had been flying with his brother Ajay, who did not survive the crash.