
Sometimes, fate plays with small details, with decisions made at the last minute, with coincidences that almost seem like they were written.
Jon Maravilla, the American figure skater, owes his life to a choice imposed by a regulation: his dog was considered "too big" to be transported in the cabin, preventing him from boarding the Bombardier CRJ700 flight, bound for Washington. A flight that a few hours later turned into tragedy.
Everything was ready for the return from Wichita, where the U.S. Figure Skating Championships had just concluded. Jon Maravilla, along with his team and other athletes, were supposed to leave to return home. But a problem arose at the check-in desk: the athlete wanted to ride his puppy, but it was too big to fit in the cabin with him.
And so he decided not to get on the plane, but to drive home.
At least 14 skaters were on the flight, as well as their coaches and family members, La Repubblica quotes.
" I can't stop thinking about how much everything changed, a simple no at check-in. My dog saved my life. I don't know why it happened to me. But I know that I will never take anything for granted again. And that I will keep my dog by my side, always ," he said after the tragedy.