Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani among 241 victims killed in Air India crash near Ahmedabad

Former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani, 68, was among the 241 passengers killed when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

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Air India Flight 171, en route to London Gatwick with 230 passengers and 12 crew members, issued a mayday call minutes after takeoff. The aircraft, reportedly still flying with its landing gear extended, plunged into a hostel building at B.J. Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area. The crash caused multiple explosions, with thick black smoke seen billowing from the site, according to eyewitnesses.

Emergency response teams, including fire brigades, CISF, NDRF, and ambulances, rushed to the scene. The airport was briefly shut to facilitate rescue operations.

Authorities have confirmed 241 onboard fatalities, along with five deaths on the ground. One passenger survived and is undergoing treatment.

Nationalities onboard included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “heartbreaking beyond words,” while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer termed it “devastating.” King Charles III also expressed his condolences.

Rupani, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, was onboard the flight for a private visit. His sudden demise has left a significant void in the state’s political leadership.

Investigations are underway, with the DGCA, NTSB, and UK authorities involved. Boeing and Air India have pledged full cooperation.