British student who was supposed to be on Air India flight speaks out on how her 'life was saved'
A British student who had a ticket for the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport has spoken out on how her ‘life was saved’.
The aircraft tragically crashed into a medical hostel just moments after leaving the airport in West India on Thursday (12 June), killing all but one of the 242 people on board.
Among them, 169 had hailed from India, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese and one passenger was Canadian.
Only one person miraculously survived the deadly crash - British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was sitting in seat 11A, and says he had ‘no idea how he exited the plane’.
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But Ramesh’s shocking story was not the only one, as it’s now been reported that a student who is studying in Britain was just minutes late for the flight, which ‘saved her life’ as she wasn't allowed to board.
Bhumi Chauhan, who moved to London two years ago on a study visa, told the BBC how she was supposed to be on the Air India flight, but was denied entry as she was late.
The student was initially upset as she had lost out on the money she paid for her ticket and thought the missed flight could cost her job.
But, when she learned of the plane’s tragic fate, she spoke of how her ‘life has been saved’.
Bhumi told the publication: "Earlier I thought that Ahmedabad's traffic would cost me my ticket money and my job.
"Even though I lost my money, I am happy that my life was saved."
She explained: "We had reached Ahmedabad on time from Ankleshwar, but due to Ahmedabad's traffic, I reached the airport five minutes late, due to which I was not allowed to enter the airport."
She was travelling back to the British city, where she lives with her husband, after a holiday in India, she explained in a different interview with NDTV.
Bhumi 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.
"I had reached the check-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."
Bhumi continued: "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.”
Madison Burgess