Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani believed onboard as Air India flight with 242 crashes near Ahmedabad
An Air India Dreamliner en route to London crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, carrying 242 people, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The aircraft burst into flames near Meghani Nagar. Rescue operations are underway, with emergency teams scrambling for survivors as top leaders respond to the devastating tragedy.
In a horrifying turn of events, an Air India flight carrying 242 people, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad¡¯s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 to London Gatwick, plummeted near Meghani Nagar, a densely populated neighbourhood.
Air India flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad #airindia #planecrash pic.twitter.com/RWScinu4bY
¡ª Gaurav B (@unfollowgauravB) June 12, 2025
Eyewitnesses reported thick black smoke billowing from the crash site, as screams and chaos erupted moments after the aircraft nosedived. Flight tracking data revealed the plane took off at 1:39 pm and lost contact just five minutes later.
Deeply perturbed by the news of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and crew members affected by this tragic incident!#Indian#ahmedabadplanecrash pic.twitter.com/mFndWjahNw
¡ª Dhritiman Kalita ?? (@Dhritimank06) June 12, 2025
Passengers and crew in grave peril
The doomed flight was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Sources revealed that Vijay Rupani, who served as Gujarat¡¯s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, was among those onboard. His presence has not been officially confirmed but has sparked immense concern.
#BREAKING: AIR INDIA FLIGHT #AI171 CRASHES IN AHMEDABAD SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF pic.twitter.com/4Ac8JM5ECQ
¡ª Mohammad Hayat (@mofarooka) June 12, 2025
The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kunder, was one of Air India¡¯s flagship Dreamliners. Civil Aviation officials confirmed that the crash was instantaneous post-takeoff, leaving little time for distress signals or evasive action.
BREAKING:
¡ª Visegr¨¢d 24 (@visegrad24) June 12, 2025
Vijaybhai Rupani, who served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021, was on board the Air India flight that crashed an hour ago on its way to London.
He¡¯s a high-ranking member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (Modi¡¯s party) ?? pic.twitter.com/VMnMhywDQt
As per the reports by AajTak, out of the total of 242 people, 52 were British, 6 were from Portugal and 1 from Canada, and the rest were from India.
Nationwide shock and emergency response
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Gujarat¡¯s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other senior authorities, urging immediate relief and federal coordination. Shah also offered the Centre¡¯s complete support in tackling the crisis.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, visibly shaken, stated he was ¡°shocked and devastated¡± by the crash. He assured that rescue units were on high alert, and medical teams had been dispatched to the site.
BREAKING: Air India Flight AI171, bound for London, has reportedly crashed during takeoff near Ahmedabad Airport. ??
¡ª TAM (@Awakeningmedia1) June 12, 2025
242 souls onboard.
In a country obsessed with space missions and PR campaigns, can it guarantee basic passenger safety?
May Allah protect the innocent.
?¡ pic.twitter.com/qz8d8iqRTS
Air India, DGCA, and airport authorities react
Air India confirmed the incident on social media, noting that details were still being ascertained. Chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed condolences, stating the airline's immediate priority was supporting affected families and coordinating with emergency teams.
Another tragic chapter in Boeing's growing list of aviation disasters.
¡ª Snehal ?? (@Snehalsays_03) June 12, 2025
An Air India flight has crashed in Ahmedabad, raising serious questions yet again about safety and accountability.
Prayers for the victims. ?#AirIndia #Boeing #AhmedabadCrash #AviationSafety pic.twitter.com/qXDAdt3lQn
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the aircraft involved was a B787 Dreamliner registered as VT-ANB. The airport has since suspended all operations.
State government acts swiftly
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered a green corridor for transporting the injured and mobilised medical care on a war footing. The situation remains fluid, with fears rising about the death toll.
As India reels from the impact of yet another air disaster, questions now swirl around the cause, and whether this tragedy could have been prevented.
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