A major aviation tragedy unfolded on Thursday afternoon when Air India Flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, raising fears about the fate of its 242 occupants, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1:10 PM and tragically crashed within five minutes into a residential zone in Meghani Nagar. Eyewitnesses reported a huge explosion followed by thick plumes of smoke visible from far-off locations.

Emergency responders from the airport, including multiple fire tenders, rushed to the scene to control the blaze, as confirmed by Fire Officer Jayesh Khadia. “The plane caught fire after crashing and fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze,” he stated.

Air India confirmed the incident through an official release: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.”

Aircraft Carried 232 Passengers

Initial reports indicate the aircraft was carrying 232 passengers, including two infants, along with 12 crew members, bringing the total number of individuals on board to 242. The flight was under the command of Captain Sumit Sabharwal with Clive Kunder serving as co-pilot.

According to a passenger manifest accessed by India Today Digital, “Vijay Ramniklal Rupani” was listed as the 12th passenger, travelling in Z class, typically categorised under Business Class. Although official confirmation is awaited, it is confirmed that the former Gujarat Chief Minister was on board at the time of the crash and is found dead.

Who Is Vijay Rupani EX Gujarat CM Travelling on the Flight?

Rupani, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, held the office of Chief Minister of Gujarat from August 2016 until September 2021. His political journey spans multiple decades, during which he also served as Mayor of Rajkot, a Rajya Sabha member, and a cabinet minister in the Gujarat government. He represented Rajkot West in the state assembly and was BJP’s state unit president before taking over as Chief Minister.

As rescue and relief operations continue, officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), including members from the DAW, ADAW, and FOI who were already stationed in Ahmedabad for other duties, have started gathering evidence and monitoring the situation closely.

Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Temporarily Suspended

In the aftermath of the crash, operations at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have been temporarily suspended. Online flight tracking data had earlier shown AI171 departing for London as scheduled.

While the full extent of the casualties is yet to be determined, this incident marks one of the most severe air disasters in recent Indian aviation history. Updates are expected as authorities continue to investigate and search the crash site.