For Bhoomi Chauhan, getting caught in terrible traffic on the roads of Ahmedabad on Thursday proved to be a blessing in disguise. The Bharuch resident was upset but escaped a terrifying near-death experience after she missed her crucial London-bound flight.
Air India flight 171 had crashed seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 1.30pm. Of the 242 passengers and crew members on board, only one survived. It was one of the worst air disasters in recent times.
“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,” Bhoomi said after she missed the doomed flight.
Bhoomi was scheduled to board AI 171 to travel to London, where she lives with her husband. She was visiting India after two years and was on a holiday. She, however, arrived at the Ahmedabad airport 10 minutes later after getting stuck in the traffic.
“The flight was scheduled to take off at 1.10pm. The boarding procedure was over at 12.10pm and I reached at 12.20pm. 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,” she said.
“I got late because I was stuck in traffic. I was upset (after being denied boarding) and reached the airport exit when I learnt the plane had crashed. My Ganpati ji saved me,” she added.
Bhoomi’s mother said she had left her child behind 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.
