On June 12, 2025, tragedy struck near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff. The flight was en route to London Gatwick and had 242 people on board, 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Over 133 fatalities have been confirmed, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history.
Among the deceased was Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was travelling to London to visit his wife Anjali and daughter Radhika, who are both currently residing in the UK. The family was scheduled to return to India together later this month.
Vijay Rupani served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from August 7, 2016, to September 11, 2021. He was born on August 2, 1956, in Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Rangoon), and was the youngest of seven siblings. His family migrated to Rajkot in 1960. He completed his Bachelor of Arts from Dharmendrasinhji Arts College and earned a law degree (LLB) from Saurashtra University.
Before entering politics, Rupani worked with his father as a stockbroker. He joined the Jan Sangh in 1971 and was jailed for 11 months during the Emergency. He was deeply associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and became an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1986, he was elected as a municipal councillor in Rajkot. Later, he held key positions in the Gujarat government, including chairman of Gujarat Tourism and as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2006 to 2012.
Upon confirmation of the crash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow and termed the incident “heartbreaking beyond words.” He dispatched Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to Ahmedabad to supervise rescue operations. The Prime Minister himself is en route to the city to assess the situation.
Seven fire brigade units and six NDRF teams were deployed at the crash site. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the airport was temporarily shut down to prioritise emergency response.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Air India has issued a public helpline and is providing updates through its official X account.
This incident not only marks a personal loss for Gujarat but also raises critical questions about aviation safety, aircraft maintenance, and emergency preparedness in India.
