Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Dies In Air India Plane Crash

Photo: Instagram / @controversyy

India-West News Desk

AHMEDABAD – Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, 68, was among the over 200 fatalities when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed minutes after departing from Ahmedabad airport on June 12. The London-bound flight went down shortly after takeoff.

Confirmation of Rupani’s death came from Gujarat BJP chief C.R. Patil, who described his passing as a “great loss to the BJP family.”

In the hours following the tragedy, a final photograph and video of Rupani surfaced on social media. The photo, captured by a fellow passenger, shows him seated inside the aircraft just before takeoff. A separate video, which has circulated widely, shows the senior BJP leader completing his boarding formalities.

Rupani, a prominent figure in both state politics and the BJP’s national structure, served as the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021. He remained active in political life until recently and was known for his work at the ground level.His political career spanned decades, marked by a commitment to the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.