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News18
4 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Vijay Rupani Sat In Cockpit On Boeing Plane Months Before AI-171 Crash, Old Pics Resurface
Last Updated: Vijay Rupani was seen sitting inside the cockpit of a Boeing aircraft during his visit to Ahmedabad's Indus University months before his death in the Air India crash. Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the Air India-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, had paid a visit to a Boeing plane's cockpit a few months ago. He had visited the Western India Institute of Aeronautics in Ahmedabad's Indus University and posted the pictures of his interaction with the students. He also shared his images in the cockpit. The pictures of his visit have now resurfaced on social media, days after he died in the plane crash on June 12, in which 240 others on board were killed in the deadly crash. There was a sole survivor in the crash. During his visit to the university, he had sat inside a decommissioned Boeing 737 aircraft. He sat in the right seat of the cockpit, where the first officer (co-pilot) is mostly seated. 'During a visit to the campus of 'Indus University" in Ahmedabad today, I also visited the Western India Institute of Aeronautics. During this visit, I saw models and real aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Cessna, Zenith, and MiG-21," he posted on Instagram along with the pictures of his visit. 'The interaction with students from the aviation department was full of energy and enthusiasm. I extended my best wishes for Indian students to make a mark on the global stage," he added. Rupani was also seen speaking with Radhika Bhandari, the Dean of Aviation at the university, while standing at the entrance of the aircraft. He was the chief minister of Gujarat between 2016 and 2021. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2012. First Published: July 04, 2025, 14:09 IST
Time of India
5 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: Just 2 months before Ahmedabad tragedy, former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani examined Boeing cockpit; shared photos on Instagram
(Credit- Instagram) NEW DELHI: Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani , who was among 241 victims in the Air India flight AI-171 crash at Ahmedabad airport on June 12, had sat in a Boeing aircraft cockpit during a university tour just two months before the incident. Rupani also posted the photos of his visit on his Instagram page on April 8. The Boeing 787 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff while en route to London's Gatwick airport on July 12. Rupani had visited the Western India Institute of Aeronautics at Indus University in Ahmedabad, where he examined various aircraft models. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Rupani had posted along with a picture from inside a Boeing 737 cockpit stating, "Today, during a visit to the campus of 'Indus University' in Ahmedabad, I visited the Western India Institute of Aeronautics. During this visit, I observed models and real aircraft such as Boeing 737, Cessna, Zenith, and Mig-21." "My interaction with the students of the aviation department was filled with energy and enthusiasm. I extend my best wishes for Indian students to shine on the global stage," he added. The former chief minister's last rites were performed with full state honors at Ramnathpara crematorium in Rajkot on June 16. A funeral procession carried Rupani's body through Rajkot before reaching the cremation ground, where he was accorded a 21-gun salute by the state police.
NDTV
7 hours ago
- General
- NDTV
Vijay Rupani Was Seen Inside Boeing Cockpit Months Before Air India Crash
Ahmedabad: Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who died in an Air India plane crash on June 12 in Ahmedabad, had visited a Boeing cockpit months before the deadly accident. Mr Rupani's pictures from his visit to Western India Institute of Aeronautics in Ahmedabad's Indus University have resurfaced days after he was killed when a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171) flight, with 242 passengers and crew members on board, crashed into a hostel and canteen of a medical college shortly after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. All but one on board the plane died along with 29 on the ground. Mr Rupani, who visited the University on April 8, shared pictures of himself inside the cockpit of a decommissioned Boeing 737-200 aircraft. He was seen sitting in the right-hand seat, which is mostly occupied by the first officer (co-pilot). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) Mr Rupani was also seen interacting with Radhika Bhandari, the Dean of Aviation at the university, while standing at the door of the aircraft. "Today, during a visit to the campus of "Indus University" in Ahmedabad, I visited the Western India Institute of Aeronautics. During this visit, I saw models of aircraft like Boeing 737, Cessna, Zenith and Mig-21 and real aircraft," he had written in Gujarati in a post on Instagram. "During this, the conversation with the students of the Aviation Department became very energetic. I wish the Indian student to make his name bright on the global stage," he added. Captain Umang Jani, a faculty member at the university who had shown Mr Rupani around, said that he was "very curious" and asked them how the aircraft works. "I tried to explain and answer his queries regarding the aircraft, the various controls in the cockpit and the functioning of the airliner," he told The Indian Express. Mr Rupani, who was a member of the Rajya Sabha between 2006 and 2012, served as the chief minister from 2016 to 2021. Vijay Rupani Cancelled London Ticket Twice Flying to London on June 12 to meet his wife and daughter was not Vijay Rupani's first choice. He had first booked his ticket for May 19 on flight AI171 and intended to fly back to India on June 25. With a change in plans, Mr Rupani cancelled his ticket for May 19 and decided to fly on June 5. However, he cancelled his second ticket too and booked seat number 2D on flight AI 171 for June 12.
India Today
9 hours ago
- General
- India Today
Vijay Rupani explored Boeing cockpit two months before Air India plane crash
Just two months before former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died in the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, he was seen inside the cockpit of another aircraft, keen to understand how it operates. In June, Rupani was among the 241 passengers who lost their lives when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area. The accident also claimed the lives of more than 20 local two months after the tragedy, old photos of Vijay Rupani sitting in the cockpit of a Boeing 737-200 aircraft have gone viral on social media. These pictures were taken during his visit to Indus University in April, where he was learning about aviation. The Boeing 737-200 aircraft, where the photos were taken, is about 50 years old and is placed on the campus of Indus University for educational purposes. It was brought to the university seven years ago. The aviation department of the university invited him to sit inside the cockpit of the old Boeing aircraft. Captain Umang Jani, Head of the Aviation Department at the Western India Institute of Aeronautics, said Rupani was very curious and asked many questions about how planes fly and how pilots control them. He sat in the pilot's seat and showed great interest in the cockpit instruments.'He asked where to place feet, how to hold the controls, and was amazed by the meters and switches,' said Jani. In a twist of fate, it is worth mentioning that the cockpit of the Boeing 737-200 aircraft in which the former CM was seated is quite similar to that of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. However, the Dreamliner uses advanced digital systems while the older aircraft relies on analog had shared the cockpit photos on his social media shortly after his visit. After his tragic death, those photos are being widely shared again.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Air India
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Vijay Rupani visited Boeing 737 cockpit two months before death in Dreamliner crash
Just two months before his death in the fatal crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was inside the cockpit of another passenger aircraft trying to understand its functioning. He made the visit on April 8 on the sidelines of a speech he delivered on 'One Nation, One Election' at the Indus University located near Rancharda village on Ahmedabad's outskirts. Rupani, following the speech, was given a tour of the Indus University and the Western India Institute of Aeronautics (WIIA), which are in the same campus. There, in the parking lot, lying among two-wheelers and four-wheelers, was a slightly bigger vehicle — a decommissioned Boeing 737-200 aircraft. Like the Dreamliner which crashed two months later, this aircraft was also manufactured by Boeing and had been flown by Air India before being grounded and retired some years back. It has been kept here for practical training purposes of students of aeronautical engineering. Describing his experience, Rupani had written on social media: 'Saw the working of the Boeing 737, Cessna, Zenith and Mig21 through their models and real ones at the Institute of Aeronautics.' He had also interacted with the students. Rupani was among the 241 people who died on June 12 when the AI 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into BJ Medical College's boys hostel less than a minute after take-off. He was headed to London as his daughter Radhika is based there. Shailesh Mandaliya, Rupani's longtime assistant, also confirmed his visit to the university and to the aircraft during his lecture in April. Captain Umang Jani, who is a faculty member at the university, had shown Rupani around. He told The Indian Express, 'Rupaniji visited the aircraft and we showed him the cockpit. He was very curious and asked us how the aircraft works. I tried to explain and answer his queries regarding the aircraft, the various controls in the cockpit and the functioning of the airliner.' Photos of the visit, shared on the former CM's social media pages, show him seated in the First Officer's seat, while Jani can be seen seated in the Captain's seat to his left. Behind them is Radhika Bhandari, Dean of Aviation at Indus University. Jani, who is an aeronautical engineer and a commercial pilot, said, 'He (Rupani) looked at the front and overhead panels and to a common man, the whole system looks highly complex. So he asked about the controls, instruments as well as the backup systems. We explained in layman's terms.'
