Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was reportedly among the passengers on the Air India flight that crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, headed for London’s Gatwick Airport, went down just five minutes into the flight.
As per the passenger manifest accessed by India Today Digital, “Vijay Ramniklal Rupani” was listed as the 12th passenger, flying in Z class—Air India’s business category.
Outside Rupani’s Rajkot residence, an air of anxiety prevails. Neighbours have started gathering, many emotional and visibly shaken. “We’ve been neighbours since 1988,” said Kiran, a long-time family friend. “My husband was their family doctor. We’re like family. I can’t believe this could happen.”
The doomed flight, Air India 171, carried 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew. The manifest includes 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the UK, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Emergency units, including seven fire engines, were quickly dispatched to the crash site. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel instructed officials to establish a green corridor for swift medical evacuation and ensure all hospitals were fully equipped.
Thick plumes of black smoke were seen near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, where the aircraft went down. Authorities and citizens alike await updates, hoping for a miracle.
Rupani, who led Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021, remains unaccounted for as rescue efforts continue.
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