Fate doesn’t always arrive with a thunderclap. Sometimes, it slips quietly into our lives—a mother’s trembling voice, a delayed cab, a feeling we can’t explain.
On June 12, six individuals who were meant to board Air India Flight 171 discovered just how loud a whisper from destiny can be. The flight, bound from Ahmedabad to London, never made it. It crashed, leaving tragedy in its wake.
But for these would-be passengers, as reported by The Times of India (TOI), what first seemed like minor setbacks—an emotional plea, a bureaucratic delay, a traffic jam, or a last-minute change of heart—turned out to be life-saving interventions. These fleeting moments drew the line between life and death.
1. A Mother’s Tears Changed the Course of a Life
Yaman Vyas, a warehouse worker in the UK, had just completed a long-overdue visit to his family in Vadodara. His return ticket was confirmed, bags packed, and documents ready. But as he prepared to leave for the airport, his mother suddenly broke down.
“Thhoda divas rokai jaa ne, beta,” she told him—stay for a few more days, son.
Her voice, heavy with emotion, gave him pause. His father echoed her sentiment. In that moment, Vyas made a snap decision to cancel his flight.
“My phone started buzzing with messages about the crash. I just stood there, stunned. My mother’s tears had saved my life,” he told TOI.
2. Rejected at the Airport—and Grateful for It
Jaimin Patel, 29, and Priya Patel, 25, had planned a vacation to London with a friend. According to TOI, they had their visas in order and luggage ready. But at the Air India check-in counter, things quickly fell apart. Airline staff identified discrepancies in their paperwork and denied them boarding passes.
“We begged them,” Jaimin said. “We were so angry, so frustrated. We just wanted to board the plane.”
With no resolution possible in time, the couple returned home—defeated. But shortly afterward, their phone rang.
“A friend said, ‘Turn on the TV—now.’ When I saw the news, I couldn’t breathe. That plane we were desperate to board… it had crashed. I’ve never been so thankful for being denied something,” Priya told TOI.
3. A Quiet Feeling That Meant Everything
Savji Timbadia, who had seat 1A reserved, was set to visit his son in London. But early that morning, he felt an unusual sense of discomfort—no fear or illness, just unease.
“I called my son and said I wouldn’t be coming. I didn’t feel like flying today,” he told TOI. “He asked why, but I had no answer. I just felt off.”
Later, when news of the crash broke, Timbadia understood what his instincts had tried to tell him.
“I realised what that feeling meant. Lord Swaminarayan saved me,” he said.
4. Ten Minutes Too Late—And Gratefully So
Bhoomi Chauhan was caught in Ahmedabad’s notorious traffic. Despite leaving early, she faced unexpected bottlenecks. When she finally reached the airport, it was already 12:20 p.m.—ten minutes past the gate closure.
She pleaded with airport staff, but they refused to let her through.
Heartbroken, she began her long return to Bharuch. Soon after, news of the crash spread.
“I couldn’t believe it. Ten minutes of traffic changed everything. I was leaving my son behind in India—I think Ganpati Bappa kept me back,” she told TOI.
5. Business Delay Turns into a Life-Saving Detour
Jayesh Thakkar, a well-known event organizer in Vadodara, had intended to board AI 171. But business obligations took him to Kolkata, where delays forced him to change his travel plans.
“I realised I wouldn’t make it, so I rebooked for later,” he told TOI.
What seemed like a frustrating inconvenience at the time turned out to be a twist of fate.
6. Grief Postponed His Trip—and Spared His Life
Ravji Patel was still mourning the recent loss of his daughter, Bharti, to cancer. Her husband, Arjun Patoliya, was flying back to London to be with their young daughters, aged 8 and 4. Arjun had asked Ravji to accompany him to help with the children and ease the grief.
“He wanted me to come, but I had work here,” Ravji told TOI. “I promised I’d fly out in two weeks. He agreed.”
When the plane crashed, Ravji was left not only mourning his daughter—but now his son-in-law as well.
Whispers from Destiny
In each of these stories, fate intervened not with spectacle, but with subtlety. A parent’s plea, a bureaucratic holdup, a gut feeling—these moments, so easily dismissed, became the difference between life and death.
These six lives were spared—not by grand miracles, but by the quiet, almost invisible hand of destiny.
Sources: The Times of India (TOI), The Economic Times.