Ahmedabad Plane Crash: All 242 People On-Board Including Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Feared Killed

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, June 12: All the 242 people aboard the ill-fated Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight to London including 230 passengers and 12 crew members are believed to have been perished as the plane crashed soon after take-off at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, in one of the worst ever aviation tragedies in India.

Even though the final confirmation was still awaited, official sources said none of the 242 aboard the flight survived the crash. Among those killed was believed to be the former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani who was travelling to London to bring back his wife Anajaliben Rupani who was staying in the British capital for the last six months.

The plane also slammed into a hostel for doctors of the BJP Medical College in the Ahmedabad civil hospital compound killing at least five medical students and injuring scores of others. Visuals from the crash site show debris had pierced through the wall of a dining hall of the hostel, with food still visible on some of the plates.

A video of the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude shows the plane slamming the ground and exploding in a massive ball of fire at 1.38 pm. It was loaded with fuel since it was flying a long distance to London. Shortly after take-off, the pilot sent out a mayday call. There was no response after that to repeated calls from the air traffic controller, say reports.

In the final moments, the catastrophic failure to achieve lift happened at a very low altitude of 825 feet. The aircraft was clearly unable to climb, aviation experts said. Flight No. AI 171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, had on board 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals. Visuals showed charred wreckage of the plane, thick smoke rising from the site and emergency personnel at work. Some videos also showed injured taken to hospitals.

At least two dozen ambulances arrived at the site and some have taken away injured people to hospital. The police have diverted traffic from the area.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was personally monitoring the situation and directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” he said in a post on X.

Mr Rupani’s office said the former chief minister was on-board the ill-fated flight and the initial reports said he was severely injured in the crash. Flight records confirmed that Mr Rupani was seated in 2-D in the business class section. Talking to reporters, Vijay Rupani’s neighbours expressed concerns about his well-being.

Former Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said, “I had a program at Gujarat Vidyapeeth. After returning, I was having lunch and turned on the TV when I saw that a flight from Ahmedabad to London had crashed. I became worried because I knew Vijay Rupani was scheduled to travel to London today, though I didn’t know he was on this flight. I immediately turned off the TV and came to his residence in Gandhinagar. I am now heading to the civil airport for more information.”

Locals in Rupani’s hometown of Rajkot are struggling to come to terms with the news. “We are all very worried. We are watching every update on TV and mobile,” said a concerned neighbour, highlighting the growing anxiety in the area. Authorities have not yet released a full list of survivors or victims, but the confirmation of Rupani’s ticket and seat allocation suggests he was indeed among those on the flight when it crashed.

According to the State Police Control Room, people have been urged to stay away from the crash site to allow unhindered rescue operations.

As investigations continue into what caused the aircraft to crash, preliminary reports suggest a possible mechanical failure or collision on the runway, attention remains focused on both the identities of the deceased and the survivors. Fire crews and emergency responders remain on the ground, working around the clock to clear the debris and offer medical assistance to the injured.