Vijay Rupani feared to be among those on board crashed Air India plane: Report

Ahmedabad plane crash: Vijay Rupani is feared to be among passengers of the Air India flight going to UK that crashed near the Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday.

Updated on: Jun 12, 2025, 15:50:17 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Unconfirmed reports said that former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers of the Air India plane that crashed in a locality near the Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday afternoon.

Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was reportedly on the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad. (ANI/File)

"Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani is believed to be on the Air India flight that crashed near the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, an indiatoday.in report said, citing sources said. Track Ahmedabad plane crash news live coverage here

An confirmation on Vijay Rupani's presence onboard is awaited.

The Air India plane bound for London's Gatwick Airport, AI171, reportedly had over 240 people on board, including several crew members.

Visuals showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad.

Air India confirmed that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, “departed from Ahmedabad at 13:38 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft”.

Of the total passengers, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals, according to Air India.

The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engined plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

Air India in its first statement after the crash, said flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident. “At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on http://airindia.com and on our X handle (https://x.com/airindia),” Air India posted on X.

Initial ADS-B data shared by Flightradar24 from flight AI171 showed that the aircraft reached a maximum barometric altitude of 625 feet (airport altitude is about 200 feet) and then it started to descend with an vertical speed of -475 feet per minute.

As a result of Air India plane crash incident, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA), Ahmedabad, was shut till further notice, SVPIA spokesperson said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Vijay Rupani

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.