How Heavy Traffic Saved Indian Woman from Deadly Air India Crash That Killed 241

In a stunning twist of fate, a woman narrowly escaped death after heavy traffic prevented her from boarding the ill-fated Air India flight AI-171, which crashed shortly after take-off on Thursday, killing 241 people.

Bhoomi Chauhan, a resident of Ahmedabad, was en route to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to catch the Gatwick-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner when congestion on the road delayed her by 10 crucial minutes — ultimately costing her a seat on the doomed flight but saving her life.

“As soon as I was told I had missed the flight, I felt devastated. But minutes later, when news of the crash broke, I just went numb,” Chauhan told local reporters. “My legs started shaking.”

The plane, carrying 242 passengers — including 53 British nationals — took off around 1:40 pm local time and crashed moments later in the densely populated Meghani area of the city. Authorities confirmed that only one person survived the fiery disaster.

Chauhan, who had been vacationing in India while her husband stayed in London, was reportedly turned away at the boarding gate due to her late arrival. Shortly after, she received news that the aircraft she had desperately tried to board had gone down in a catastrophic incident.

Terrifying CCTV footage of the crash shows the aircraft veering downward at a steep angle with landing gear deployed before crashing into a residential zone, causing panic and destruction.

The tragic event has sparked international grief and mourning, while Chauhan’s miraculous escape has become a symbol of the unpredictability of fate.

“One moment I was cursing the traffic. The next, I was thanking God for it,” she said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Indian aviation authorities, but preliminary reports suggest a technical failure during takeoff. Boeing and Air India have yet to issue detailed statements.