VADODARA: A providential change in travel plans due to an extended stay in Kolkata spared the life of Jayesh Thakkar, a prominent Vadodara-based businessman and organiser of the famed ‘Maa Shakti’ Navratri garba who was scheduled to board the ill-fated Air India AI-171 flight from Ahmedabad to London, reports Sachin Sharma. Thakkar, who frequents London – where he also operates an office – was in Kolkata and had planned to fly to Ahmedabad to catch the London-bound flight. However, an unexpected delay in his schedule forced him to change his travel route. “I got delayed in Kolkata due to work and realised I wouldn’t make it to Ahmedabad in time for the flight. That’s when I decided to change my itinerary,” Thakkar told TOI.Instead, he routed his journey through Delhi, from where he planned to catch another flight to London. But as he landed in Delhi, news of the AI-171 crash broke. “I was stunned. It could have been me,” he said. Thakkar immediately cancelled his trip and returned to Vadodara.