From YSR To Rupani: Another Ex-Chief Minister Lost In Aviation Disaster

A devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad has claimed the lives of all 242 people onboard, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The Gujarat government officially confirmed his death, stating that no one survived the tragic crash.

The ill-fated aircraft was Air India Flight AI-171, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport. The flight took off from runway number 23 at 1:39 PM. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed, producing a deafening noise as it plummeted to the ground like a ball of fire. Thick smoke engulfed the area as flames erupted at the crash site, creating a horrifying scene.

Vijay Rupani becomes the fourth former Chief Minister in India to die in an aircraft-related accident. He served as Gujarat's 18th Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021 and represented the Rajkot West constituency. Rupani is also the second former Gujarat CM to die in a plane crash. The first was Balwant Rai Mehta, Gujarat's second Chief Minister, who was killed in 1965 when the aircraft he was traveling in was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan war. Pakistani pilot Qasi Hussain was responsible for the attack.

Other such tragedies include the death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who perished in a helicopter crash on April 11, 2011. The crash occurred in Lobothang. His son, Pema Khandu, is the current Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy, the former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, also died in a helicopter crash. On September 2, 2009, the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in the dense Nallamala hills near Atmakur in Kurnool district due to poor weather conditions.