Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Among 241 Killed in Ahmedabad Air India Crash

GG News Bureau
Ahmedabad, 12th June: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the 241 fatalities when Air India Flight AI-171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. Rupani, a senior BJP leader, was 68 years old.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, departed Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM. Approximately two minutes into its ascent, at around 1:40 PM, the aircraft lost altitude and plummeted into a medical college hostel building in the Meghani Nagar area, erupting into a massive fire.

Union Minister and Gujarat BJP president CR Patil confirmed the tragic news. “Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going [to London] to meet his family. He is also a victim in this incident. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP,” said Mr. Patil. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu also confirmed Rupani’s presence on the flight, stating, “We are going to do a fair and thorough investigation, and probe why this incident happened… Very sad to know that (BJP leader) Vijay Rupani was also there, as were other nationals.”

Air India stated that the flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals on board. According to the seat chart, Vijay Rupani was on seat 2D, en route to London to meet his daughter.

Vijay Rupani served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021. He was known for his composed demeanor and firm administrative style, guiding Gujarat through a critical phase of post-Covid recovery. His tenure also saw the launch of the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020 and initiatives for tribal upliftment. Although he stepped down as Chief Minister in September 2021 as part of a party strategy to refresh leadership, he remained a key advisor and active in party affairs. Rupani began his political journey as a municipal corporator in Rajkot in 1987. He is survived by his wife, Anjali Rupani, a social worker and philanthropist, and their son.

Rescue personnel have recovered the aircraft’s black box, which is expected to be crucial in determining the exact cause of the crash. While the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is considered one of the most advanced jets with a generally strong safety record and no previous fatal accidents, preliminary reports from earlier information indicated a possible technical malfunction involving tire retraction failure during takeoff.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound grief over the tragedy. “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words,” PM Modi posted on X. “In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,” the Prime Minister added.

This crash marks a grim addition to India’s aviation history, recalling past disasters such as the August 2020 Air India Express Boeing 737 plane crash in Kozhikode that killed 18, and the May 2010 Air India Boeing 737 crash in Mangaluru that claimed 158 lives.

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