Ahmedabad, June 13, 2025 – A tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, claimed the life of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, among 241 others. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI-171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, plunging into the Meghani Nagar area and striking a medical college hostel. The disaster, one of India’s worst aviation tragedies, left only one survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, seated in 11A near an emergency exit.
Rupani, 68, was traveling to London to meet his daughter. A prominent BJP leader and two-time MLA from Rajkot West, he served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021. Known for his grassroots political work and Jain heritage, The crash occurred at 1:38 p.m. local time, with the aircraft carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The plane hit a doctors’ accommodation building, killing several medical students and staff. Ahmedabad police chief G.S. Malik noted that the death toll included both passengers and those on the ground, with 265 bodies recovered by June 13 morning. One black box has been retrieved, and a high-level investigation is underway to determine the cause, with initial reports suggesting a catastrophic technical failure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met with rescue teams, while also reviewing the situation with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. The Tata Group announced Rs 1 crore compensation for each victim’s kin, with additional payments of approximately Rs 1.5 crore under the Montreal Convention treaty. Air India deployed a support team to assist grieving families, and world leaders, including UN chief Antonio Guterres, US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, offered condolences.
In a poignant twist, Rupani’s affinity for the number 1206, which he considered lucky and used for his vehicle registrations, marked the date of his death June 12, 2025 (12/06). Posts on X highlighted this haunting coincidence, noting its significance in his life from his first scooter to his final journey.