On June 12, 2025, Bhoomi Chauhan, a 32-year-old London resident originally from Bharuch, Gujarat, was racing through Ahmedabad’s bustling streets, her heart set on catching Air India Flight AI171 to London’s Gatwick Airport. After a month-long visit to her homeland, she was eager to reunite with her husband and young daughter in the UK. But a gridlocked traffic jam, stretching mere minutes, delayed her arrival at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, causing her to miss the flight by just 10 minutes. Moments later, that same flight crashed into a medical hostel in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar neighborhood, killing 241 of the 242 aboard and at least 24 on the ground. Chauhan, spared by a twist of fate, now grapples with survivor’s guilt and overwhelming gratitude, crediting divine intervention for her life. Her story, set against the backdrop of one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters, has moved millions.
A Race Against Time
Bhoomi Chauhan’s journey to the airport began with a familiar routine. Having spent a month in Bharuch visiting her mother and extended family, she packed her suitcase with gifts—handwoven shawls, jars of homemade pickles, and a small Ganesh idol for her London flat. Her flight, Air India AI171, was scheduled to depart at 1:38 p.m., and she left her family home at 11:45 a.m., allowing ample time for the 90-minute drive to Ahmedabad. Her mother, holding Chauhan’s two-year-old daughter who stayed behind, waved tearfully as the car pulled away, unaware that the delay ahead would save her daughter’s life.
As Chauhan’s taxi neared the airport, traffic ground to a halt. A snarl of vehicles, caused by a delivery truck stalled on a narrow road, trapped her just 10 kilometers from the terminal. Frantic, she urged the driver to find a shortcut, checking her watch as the minutes ticked past. By the time she reached the check-in counter at 1:30 p.m., the gate had closed, and airline staff informed her that boarding was complete. Devastated, Chauhan lingered at the airport, rebooking a later flight and texting her husband about the delay. Eight minutes later, at 1:38 p.m., Flight AI171 took off—and crashed seconds after, plunging into a residential area with a fiery explosion that shook the city.
The Catastrophe Unfolds
Flight AI171 was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Among them were former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, a British couple running a wellness center, and a family of five chasing a new life in London. The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, lifted off from runway 23 under clear skies, expected to land in London by 6:25 p.m. local time. But at 625 feet, the plane issued a “Mayday” call, signaling a critical failure. Videos showed it struggling, nose pitched upward, landing gear extended, and flaps possibly retracted, before it plummeted into the BJ Medical College hostel, a residence for doctors and students.
The impact was catastrophic. The plane’s 60 tons of fuel ignited a massive fireball, obliterating the hostel’s canteen where students were eating lunch. Debris scattered across Meghaninagar, and the plane’s tail lodged in the building’s ruins, a haunting image captured in viral footage. Rescue teams, including the Indian Army and National Disaster Response Force, battled flames to recover 265 bodies, including 24 ground victims—students, a doctor’s spouse, and others caught in the explosion. Over 50 hostel residents were hospitalized, some with severe burns from leaping out of windows to escape the inferno.
The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national seated in 11A near an emergency exit, escaped with bruises and impact injuries. Ramesh, who was traveling with his brother Ajay, walked from the wreckage, later recounting the horror of waking amid bodies and debris. His survival, while miraculous, underscored the tragedy’s scale, as families like that of Pratik Joshi, a software engineer who perished with his wife and three children, were left with only memories.
Chauhan’s Miraculous Escape
Chauhan learned of the crash while sitting dejectedly at the airport’s coffee shop, her phone buzzing with news alerts. The realization that she had narrowly escaped death left her trembling. “My body was shaking, and I couldn’t speak,” she later said, her voice choked with emotion. “I was cursing the traffic, but now I know it was God’s plan. I thank Lord Ganesha, my Ganpati Bappa, for saving me.” Clutching the small Ganesh idol in her bag, a gift from her mother, she broke down in tears, overwhelmed by relief and grief for those lost.
Chauhan’s family in Bharuch, watching the news unfold, was stunned. Her mother, who had prayed at their home temple that morning, credited the “Mother Goddess” for protecting her daughter, noting that her granddaughter’s presence kept the family grounded. Chauhan returned to Bharuch that evening, embracing her daughter and vowing never to take life for granted. Her husband, waiting in London, described the moment he learned of her escape as “a miracle beyond words,” planning to reunite with her on a rescheduled flight.
A Nation and World in Mourning
The crash, India’s worst aviation disaster in decades, plunged the nation into grief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met Ramesh in the hospital, pledging support for victims’ families. Home Minister Amit Shah coordinated rescue efforts, while Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu oversaw medical aid for the injured. Air India, owned by the Tata Group, offered ₹1 crore (approximately $116,000) per victim’s family and established support centers in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Gatwick. The airline suspended operations at Ahmedabad airport, and its social media profiles turned black in mourning.
Globally, leaders expressed condolences. U.S. President Donald Trump offered investigative support, with the National Transportation Safety Board joining India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III mourned the 53 British victims, including a wellness couple whose cheerful airport video went viral posthumously. The AAIB, with Boeing and GE Aerospace experts, recovered the Flight Data Recorder, analyzing theories like bird strikes, engine failure, or flap issues. The Cockpit Voice Recorder remains missing, delaying insights into the pilots’ actions.
Investigating the Tragedy
The crash, the first fatal incident for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has raised questions about aviation safety. Preliminary findings suggest the plane failed to climb, with videos showing extended landing gear and possibly retracted flaps, indicating a configuration error or mechanical fault. The hostel’s proximity to the airport, just 600 meters from the runway, has sparked debates about urban planning, as residential areas encroach on safety zones. Air India’s maintenance records and pilot training are under scrutiny, though the airline’s recent modernization had bolstered its reputation.
Online, Chauhan’s story has resonated deeply. Posts on social media platforms describe her escape as “divine intervention,” with users sharing images of Lord Ganesha and prayers for the victims. The contrast between her survival and the loss of families like the Joshis, whose selfie aboard the plane became a global symbol of tragedy, underscores the randomness of fate. Some users call Chauhan’s traffic jam a “miracle of timing,” while others reflect on the fragility of life, urging gratitude for every moment.
A Life Forever Changed
In Bharuch, Chauhan’s home has become a place of quiet reflection. Neighbors visit with flowers and prayers, while her mother prepares offerings at the local temple, thanking the deities for her daughter’s life. Chauhan, still shaken, plans to return to London but admits the experience has transformed her. “I was so focused on catching that flight, but now I see every delay as a gift,” she said, holding her daughter tightly. Her Ganesh idol, now placed on a small altar in her home, serves as a reminder of the thin line between life and death.
Ahmedabad, a city of resilience, mourns its losses while celebrating stories of survival. The medical students who escaped the hostel, the responders who risked their lives, and families like Chauhan’s embody a collective strength. As investigators analyze the black box, seeking answers to prevent future tragedies, Chauhan’s escape stands as a beacon of hope amid sorrow. Her gratitude to “Ganpati Bappa” echoes across India, a testament to faith and fate in the face of unthinkable loss. For Bhoomi Chauhan, a traffic jam was not just a delay—it was a miracle that gave her a second chance at life.
