Air India crash in Ahmedabad: A video has surfaced showing former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani entering the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, just hours before boarding the Air India Flight AI171 to London. The CCTV footage, now part of the official crash investigation, captures Rupani walking into the terminal on the afternoon of June 12, moments before India’s deadliest aviation tragedies. 

Air India has confirmed Rupani’s death. The 68-year-old was among 241 people who died when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off. Authorities are still in the process of identifying victims through DNA analysis due to the intensity of the impact and resulting fire. The final CCTV visuals of Rupani add detail to the ongoing probe. 

ALSO READ

What do we know of Vijay Rupani?

Vijay Rupani had been one of Gujarat’s most seasoned political figures. He served as Chief Minister from August 2016 to September 2021, leading the state through critical phases, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic aftermath. At the time of the accident, Rupani was serving as the BJP’s state in-charge for Punjab. He also served in the Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2012, further cementing his credentials within the party.

During his tenure as Chief Minister, Rupani introduced Gujarat’s Industrial Policy 2020, with a strong focus on developing underprivileged and tribal regions. He stepped down voluntarily in 2021, paving the way for Bhupendra Patel to assume leadership ahead of the assembly elections.

ALSO READ

 Air India plane crash

Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, claiming 241 lives. The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, 12-years-old, departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 pm with 242 people on board. The only survivor has been identified as Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin. He is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.

ALSO READ

Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.