Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Feared Dead in Air India AI 171 Crash Near Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, June 12: In a tragic turn of events, former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani is feared dead after an Air India AI 171 flight crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday. The incident has plunged the state into mourning and reignited memories of past political tragedies involving air disasters.

The ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route to London, crashed into a densely populated residential area in Meghani Nagar just five minutes after takeoff. Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion followed by flames and thick plumes of smoke. Rescue operations began immediately, though the full extent of casualties is still being assessed. Authorities have confirmed that Rupani, 68, was listed on the flight’s passenger manifest.

This incident marks the second time a Gujarat chief minister has lost his life in an aviation-related tragedy, following the death of Balwantrai Mehta in 1965. Mehta, a Gandhian and Gujarat’s second Chief Minister, was flying from Ahmedabad to Mithapur when his civilian aircraft was shot down by the Pakistani Air Force, mistaking it for a military threat during the Indo-Pak war. The attack killed Mehta, his wife, and others on board. Though Pakistan later termed it a misidentification, no official apology was issued.

India has seen similar devastating losses in other states. In 2009, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy perished in a helicopter crash over the Nallamala forests, attributed to bad weather and technical failure. In 2011, Arunachal Pradesh CM Dorjee Khandu also died in a helicopter crash in treacherous mountainous terrain, with his body recovered days later at an altitude of over 13,000 feet.

The current crash involving Vijay Rupani underscores the risks public figures face during air travel and has prompted renewed scrutiny over flight safety protocols, particularly for high-profile passengers.

The nation now awaits official confirmation as search and rescue operations continue. Political leaders across party lines have expressed deep concern and extended their condolences to the affected families.