Shock and grief engulf Ahmedabad as Air India’s London-bound flight crashes, claiming former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani among 242 onboard.
Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad plunged into mourning today. An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, flight AI-171, crashed near Meghani Nagar just two minutes after takeoff at 1:38 PM, killing former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The plane, carrying 242 passengers, including 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian, met a fiery end at 625 feet. Rescue teams found 100 charred bodies, with identification a grim challenge. Smoke choked the air. Hearts shattered as the city grappled with loss.
Fatal Takeoff and Chaos
The tragedy struck fast. Flight AI-171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, only to crash at 1:40 PM. The plane hit a building housing Ahmedabad Civil Hospital doctors, injuring 15. Thick smoke and flames hindered rescuers. NDRF teams from Gandhinagar and Vadodara rushed in. “It’s a nightmare,” wept a local resident. The 11-year-old Dreamliner’s sudden fall left families in despair. A doctor murmured, “Our colleagues are gone.” The toll keeps rising.
Rupani’s Last Journey
Vijay Rupani, a veteran BJP leader, was onboard. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani confirmed his death, though the post vanished later. Sources insist he didn’t survive. The passenger list showed 230 adults and 2 infants, with Rupani in business class. “He was our pride,” said a tearful supporter. The crash’s impact on a political stalwart deepened the sorrow. Rescue efforts intensified, but hope faded with each recovered body.
Rescue Amid Ruins
The crash site turned into a battlefield. Fire brigades battled the blaze near the airport wall and cargo office. DNA tests loom for identification. “The scene is heart-wrenching,” said an NDRF officer. Reports suggest the plane’s fuel load fueled the inferno. A 2025 aviation study flags takeoff risks in aging aircraft. Hospitals braced for the injured. The city prayed. “Why this tragedy?” a bystander sobbed. Answers elude.
Nation’s Response and Uncertainty
PM Narendra Modi called it “heartbreaking beyond words.” Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu rushed to oversee relief. Air India’s hotline, 1800 5691 444, buzzed with anxious calls. Chairman N Chandrasekaran vowed support. The airport shut down, stranding flights. “We’re shattered,” said a relative. Investigations begin, but the cause—mechanical failure or error—remains a mystery. Will this spark safety reforms? Ahmedabad waits, cloaked in grief.
