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News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Why Ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Had To Postpone His London Trip
Last Updated: Vijay Rupani left Gandhinagar with aide Shailesh Mandalia and staff, reached Ahmedabad airport by 11:45 am, and boarded the London-bound Air India flight that later crashed Former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior Saurashtra leader Vijay Rupani was among the victims of the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash, a loss that has left the state in mourning. According to sources, Rupani had originally planned to travel abroad with his wife, Anjali Rupani, on June 3. However, citing party responsibilities linked to the upcoming by-elections in Punjab and Gujarat, he reportedly postponed his trip. His wife is said to have continued to London as scheduled, while Rupani rebooked his ticket for June 12 — the day he boarded the ill-fated flight. On Thursday morning, Rupani left Gandhinagar for Ahmedabad airport accompanied by his personal assistant, Shailesh Mandalia, and other staff members. They reached the airport around 11:45 am and boarded the London-bound flight. Flight records confirm that Rupani was seated in 2-D in the business class section. The tragic news has left the people of Saurashtra in deep mourning. For many, Vijay Rupani was more than a political leader—he was a trusted guide and a humble presence. His untimely death has brought immense sorrow to his supporters, party workers, and well-wishers across Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar and Kutch. Vijay Rupani's political career began with student activism in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He later served as a Pracharak in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), joined the Jan Sangh, and played a key role in the early formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His commitment to political causes saw him jailed during the Emergency in 1976. Rupani, aged 68, served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021. He represented the Rajkot West constituency in the state assembly during his tenure. The Air India Boeing 737 Dreamliner, with 230 passengers and 12 crew on board, crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport leaving 241 on board dead. The aircraft went down near the heavily populated Horse Camp locality, not far from the Civil Hospital. Emergency teams quickly mobilised to douse the flames and search for survivors amid the wreckage. More than 200 DNA samples have been collected to help identify the victims of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash. So far, five bodies have been returned to their families following post-mortem examinations. Meanwhile, the investigation into the cause of the crash is progressing on multiple fronts. Officials are examining four possible scenarios behind the tragedy: a bird strike, simultaneous engine failure, fuel contamination, and aircraft overloading. Investigators are also combing through the plane's maintenance logs to see if any scheduled checks or repairs were overlooked. Critical data from the flight recorder and radar systems is being analysed. Additionally, the lone survivor's account is offering valuable insight. According to the survivor, the plane appeared to lose thrust shortly after take-off. Moments later, it surged forward and crashed, raising the possibility of a sudden loss of engine power. First Published: June 13, 2025, 16:12 IST
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Bloomberg
US Investigators to Help in Deadly Air India Crash
Investigators from the FAA and NTSB will help determine the cause of a deadly Air India jet crash. The Boeing 737 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff in India. More than 200 bodies were recovered. The jet was powered by two General Electric engines. Ryan Beene reports. (Source: Bloomberg)
