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Vijay Rupani’s cockpit visit resurfaces after fatal AI171 crash; had twice cancelled London trip

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Chaitanyesh
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Vijay Rupani’s cockpit visit resurfaces after fatal AI171 crash; had twice cancelled London trip
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  • Vijay Rupani had visited a Boeing 737 cockpit weeks before dying in the AI171 crash
  • Photos show him seated in the co-pilot's seat and interacting with aviation students
  • He cancelled his London trip twice before finally boarding the doomed June 12 flight

Images of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inside a Boeing cockpit have resurfaced in the days following his tragic death in the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Months before the accident, Rupani had visited the Western India Institute of Aeronautics at Indus University, where he toured aircraft models and stepped inside the cockpit of a decommissioned Boeing 737-200.

Also Read: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani dies in Ahmedabad plane crash; body identified through DNA testing

In photos from his April 8 visit, Rupani is seen seated in the co-pilot’s seat and conversing with aviation students and faculty, including the Dean of Aviation, Radhika Bhandari. He expressed admiration for the students’ enthusiasm, writing in Gujarati on Instagram, “I wish the Indian student to make his name bright on the global stage.” A faculty member recalled Rupani’s curiosity, saying he asked detailed questions about cockpit functions and aircraft systems.

Ironically, Rupani’s final journey aboard a Boeing aircraft came after two cancelled trips to London. He originally booked his AI171 ticket for May 19, later postponing to June 5 before ultimately settling on the ill-fated June 12 flight. He was en route to meet his wife and daughter.

The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all but one of the 242 onboard and 29 on the ground. Rupani’s death came just weeks after his aircraft cockpit visit.

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