Air India Plane Crash: In a devastating aviation tragedy on June 12, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. Among those dead was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was travelling to London to meet his daughter.
The London-bound flight AI171 lost altitude just minutes into its ascent and crashed into a residential building near the airport, sparking a massive fire and widespread panic. The Ahmedabad Police Commissioner confirmed the recovery of 204 bodies, with many more injured admitted to hospitals.
Vijay Rupani: Second Gujarat CM to Die in Air Pane Crash
Vijay Rupani’s death places him among a tragic list of Indian Chief Ministers who have lost their lives in air accidents.
He is the second former Gujarat Chief Minister to die in such a disaster, joining Congress leader Balwantrai Mehta, the state’s second Chief Minister, whose plane was shot down during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Balwantrai Mehta’s aircraft was attacked by a Pakistani Air Force pilot, killing him, his wife, three staff members, two crew, and a journalist.
Other notable Chief Ministers who died in air crashes include YS Rajasekhara Reddy of Andhra Pradesh, who perished in a helicopter crash in 2009 due to bad weather and mechanical failure, and Dorjee Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh, who died in a helicopter crash in 2011 amid challenging terrain and weather conditions.
What We Know About the Air India Plane Crash
Flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed Ahmedabad airport at 1:38 pm with 242 people onboard, including nationals from India, the UK, Canada, and Portugal.
Just minutes after takeoff, the Air India plane lost altitude and crashed into a doctor’s hostel building in the Meghani Nagar area, near the Ahmedabad airport perimeter.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is considered one of the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft in service, with a strong safety record and no previous fatal accidents. Boeing has stated it is cooperating fully with investigators. The aircraft involved had an average flight time of over 41,000 hours.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with the black box recovered to provide crucial data.
Remembering CMs Lost in Air Accidents
Balwantrai Mehta (Gujarat)
Died in September 1965 when his plane was shot down by the Pakistani Air Force during the Indo-Pak war, killing all onboard including his wife and staff.
YS Rajasekhara Reddy (Andhra Pradesh)
Died in a helicopter crash in 2009 due to mechanical failure and bad weather while flying over dense forest terrain. All onboard perished.
Dorjee Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh)
Lost his life in a helicopter crash in 2011 during adverse weather conditions in the mountainous region of Arunachal Pradesh.