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Get live updates on the Ahmedabad plane crash. PM visits injured victims at the hospital and meets Vijay Rupani’s family at the airport.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: 241 Dead, One Survivor in Nation’s Worst Air Disaster in Recent Times
In a devastating tragedy, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, claiming the lives of 241 people. Only one person survived the crash, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in recent Indian aviation history.
Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site to assess the situation and offer condolences.
Flight AI 171 departed around 1:30 PM and lost altitude minutes after takeoff. According to Air Traffic Control, the pilot issued a ‘Mayday’ distress signal before the aircraft went down in the residential quarters of BJ Medical College doctors in the Meghaninagar area. The plane erupted into flames upon impact, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
Visuals from the scene showed firefighters and rescue teams working to pull charred bodies from the wreckage, while the injured—many with severe burns—were rushed to the nearby city civil hospital.
Preliminary assessments by aviation experts suggest a possible loss of thrust in both engines, potentially due to a bird strike. However, a full investigation is underway. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the central government has constituted a high-level committee to probe the cause of the crash.
Chinese President Xi Jinping Offers Condolences Over Air India Plane Crash
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his condolences on Friday to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the tragic crash of a London-bound Air India passenger plane in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of at least 241 people.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, Xi also conveyed a message of sympathy to King Charles III of the United Kingdom, acknowledging the significant number of British casualties in the disaster.
Traffic Jam Saves Woman from Fatal Air India Crash
What seemed like an unfortunate delay turned into a life-saving twist for Bhoomi Chauhan, a resident of Bharuch. On Thursday, she found herself stuck in heavy traffic on the roads of Ahmedabad—an inconvenience that ultimately spared her life.
Bhoomi narrowly escaped tragedy when she missed Air India flight AI 171, which crashed just moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 PM. The devastating crash claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members. Only one person survived.
“I was just about to leave the airport when I heard the news,” Bhoomi recounted, her voice still shaking. “My legs gave way. I started trembling and felt completely numb.”
She had been scheduled to fly to London, where she lives with her husband, after spending time in India on a holiday—the first in two years. However, a traffic jam delayed her arrival at the airport by just 10 minutes, causing her to miss the ill-fated flight.
For former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the number 1206 was never just a number—it was a thread woven through the fabric of his personal and political life. It adorned the number plates of his vehicles, from the humble scooter of his youth to the official car he used as Chief Minister. To Rupani, 1206 was a symbol of luck, a talisman he carried with him for decades.
But on June 12, 2025, the number took on a tragic final meaning.
Rupani, 68, was one of the 242 passengers aboard Air India Flight AI171, which crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport. He was traveling to visit his wife and daughter. He never arrived.
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In a heartbreaking twist of fate, the date of the crash—12/06, the 12th day of the 6th month—mirrored the number that had always meant good fortune to him. Friends, family, and longtime party colleagues now speak of 1206 not as a lucky charm, but as a haunting emblem of his final journey.
PM Modi Meets Family of Late Ex-CM Vijay Rupani After Tragic Air India Crash
Air India Crash Could Be India’s Costliest Aviation Insurance Claim
The tragic Air India plane crash on Thursday afternoon, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew, is likely to become the most expensive aviation insurance claim in India’s history. Estimates suggest potential liabilities ranging from $211 million to $280 million, equivalent to approximately ₹2,400 crore.
Senior BJP leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani tragically lost his life in the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. He was 68.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the family of the late leader to offer his condolences and support during this difficult time.
The Prime Minister also visited the crash site to assess the situation firsthand. Later, he met the lone survivor of the incident as well as injured medical students receiving treatment at the Civil Hospital.
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