‘I Was Numb’ Bharuch Woman On Ahmedabad Plane Crash And How A 10-Minute Delay Due To Traffic Saved Her Life

Bhoomi Chauhan from Bharuch narrowly escaped India’s deadliest air crash in recent years,  all because of a 10-minute delay. She was supposed to board Air India Flight 171, which crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing 241 people onboard. The only survivor is a British-Indian man. Bhoomi missed the flight because of traffic.

In a conversation with ANI, Bhoomi recalled the moment that changed her life. She said, “We reached the check-in gate ten minutes late due to traffic in Ahmedabad. I pleaded, but they didn’t allow me to board, saying it would delay the flight further.”

She added, “When I heard it had crashed, I was numb. I thank the Mother Goddess that I’m alive. But the incident is absolutely terrifying.”

Watch the video below!

#WATCH | Bhoomi Chauhan, a resident of Gujarat's Bharuch, missed yesterday's flight, AI-171, which crashed and 241 of 242 on board, including crew members, lost their lives.

Bhoomi Chauhan says, "...We arrived at the check-in gate 10 minutes late, but they didn't allow me, and I… pic.twitter.com/T1AqU9SSz0

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2025

Bharuch Woman Saved By A Traffic Delay

Bhoomi was travelling with her parents and had left her child at home that morning. The family was running late due to traffic congestion in the city. Though they tried to convince the staff at the check-in counter, they were not allowed to board.

Her mother believes divine forces were at work. She said, “It’s because of the Mother Goddess. Bhoomi left her child with me that day. I believe it was that child’s presence and the Goddess’s blessing that saved her.”

Her father added, “We were delayed by traffic. Even though we requested, they didn’t let her board. As we stepped out of the airport, we heard about the crash. It was devastating.”

Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Worst In Years

Flight AI-171 took off at 1:39 pm from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Within seconds, it issued a “Mayday” call to Air Traffic Control. Soon after, it crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel block, killing nearly everyone on board and several people on the ground.

Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The aircraft was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, both lost their lives in the crash.

The lone survivor, Vishwash, was seated in 11A. He managed to crawl out of the wreckage after spotting a gap in the fuselage near his seat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (along with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu) visited the crash site and the hospital. Meanwhile, Bhoomi is still shaken.