Ahmedabad crash: List of political leaders who died in air crashes

In a devastating aviation disaster, an Air India plane crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing 241 people onboard. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Shockingly, only one passenger survived the crash, defying all odds.

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Vijay Rupani: A Political Stalwart Lost

Vijay Rupani, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, was a key figure in the state’s political landscape. He assumed office after Anandiben Patel’s resignation and led the state through crucial years. His untimely death has left the political fraternity in mourning, with leaders across party lines expressing grief and condolences.

A Grim Pattern: Political Leaders Lost to Air Tragedies

Rupani now joins a tragic list of Indian political leaders who have died in aviation accidents:

Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, Andhra Pradesh’s CM, died in a helicopter crash in 2009 due to severe weather.

Dorji Khandu, CM of Arunachal Pradesh, died in 2011 in a helicopter crash; his remains were found days later.

Balwantrai Mehta, Gujarat’s second CM, was killed during an air strike in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

Sanjay Gandhi, a rising political leader and son of Indira Gandhi, died while piloting a light aircraft in 1980.

Nation in Mourning

As investigations into the crash continue, the country reels from the loss. The legacy of Vijay Rupani and others lost in similar tragedies continues to shape Indian politics and public memory.