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The Air India flight bound for London that crashed immediately after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad was carrying former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
According to India Today, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was confirmed to be one of the passengers on board, with his name, Vijay Ramniklal Rupani, appearing as the 12th passenger on the official manifest, indicating he was booked in Z class (Business Class).
Rupani served as Gujarat’s CM from 2016 to 2021 before stepping down ahead of the 2022 state elections. As per reports, he was travelling to London to accompany his wife, Anjali Rupani, back to India.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, operating as Flight AI171, went down near Meghaninagar, just outside the airport perimeter.
The plane was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
According to initial reports, the flight took off at around 2:38 PM IST and crashed within five minutes, resulting in a massive fire and thick black smoke visible across the city. Fire services, NDRF teams, police, and ambulances rushed to the site as part of a full-scale emergency response.
Tension at Rupani Residence in Rajkot
The reports mentioned that outside Rupani’s residence in Rajkot, a tense atmosphere gripped the neighbourhood as word spread of the incident. The former CM’s office has also reportedly confirmed to India Today that he had sustained serious injuries, but no medical bulletin has been released as of now.
Leaders React, Emergency Measures Ordered
Meanwhile, current Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel issued instructions to create a green corridor in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar to ensure swift evacuation and transport of the injured. Hospitals have been placed on alert, and trauma units have been activated to prepare for a potential mass casualty scenario.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched inquiries into the cause of the crash. Air India released a statement acknowledging the incident and said that details were being ascertained.
Flight and Passenger Details
Flight AI171 was headed for London Gatwick and had taken off with passengers from multiple nationalities. Of the 230 passengers, 169 were Indian, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian.
The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar in the cockpit. A total of 10 cabin crew members were onboard.
Further updates from the DGCA and AAIB are expected as investigations progress.
