Life is Fragile | The Air India Flight 171
- Andi Dela Torre Griffiths
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
Upon learning about the tragic Air India flight 171 that took place last month, I felt sad and could not help but think just how fragile life is (perhaps even more delicate than we think).
To those who haven't read about it yet, it was a regular international flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick that went sideways. Just a few moments after the plane took off, it crashed into a building. From what I have found online, the death toll is currently at 274.
Heartbreaking. Inside that plane were people with dreams, stories, and ambitions. It's hard to imagine how the last moments for them would have been. Just like that, their lives were gone.
The incident is still under investigation, and there are no conclusions (as to what caused it yet), but they're leaning more towards engine failure. I hope they figure things out and find better ways to improve their safety measures. Based on passenger reviews, photos, and videos, Air India didn't seem to have the best system. It would be great if that changes.
A Second Chance at Life
Fortunately, there was one person who survived- Vishwas Kumar, who was seated in 11A. I'm not sure how he managed to come out of that whole situation alive. I saw the video of the explosion on the news, and it looked impossible to get through that, but thank God he did. It's a miracle. There's no other way to describe it. Grabe talaga. Iba siguro yung pakiramdam mabigyan ng ganung pagkakataon from that kind of circumstance.
There was also another passenger miraculously saved from the accident. She is Bhoomi Chauhan, a student who failed to board the plane due to bad traffic on her way to the airport. The story of how she missed the flight -and how it turned out to be in her favor- is astounding. That's the Burnt Toast Theory in motion right there. Had she arrived earlier or on time, she would have been one of those who sadly passed away in that crash. It is in moments like these that we see the importance of time and how every second counts.
A Question for You
Have you ever experienced something similar? Like a delay that ended up saving you from trouble? What did it make you realize?
You Never Know What Can Happen Next
Oh, life, so beautiful yet so fragile. It’s not wise to take anything for granted these days. Because with all the wars, diseases, natural disasters, or unexpected circumstances (like the one above), you never know what can happen next. Things can change in a snap.
May all the souls that departed rest in peace.
With this, I'm ending this blog post with a quick reminder to cherish your life.
