A devastating एयर इंडिया (Air India) plane crash near Ahmedabad has claimed the lives of all 242 people on board, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI 171, crashed in a residential area near Meghani Nagar shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM today.

The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the nation, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his grief and offering condolences to the families of the victims. Union Minister C.R. Patil confirmed Rupani's death, calling his demise a "big loss." Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yagnesh Dave also confirmed that Rupani was scheduled to travel on the ill-fated flight. Sources close to the former Chief Minister indicated he was traveling to the UK to bring back his wife, Anjali Rupani, who is currently in London.

Emergency response operations are currently underway at the crash site. Ahmedabad Police have confirmed that all individuals on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, have died. Rescue personnel have recovered at least 60 bodies so far from the wreckage, which is spread across a densely populated area. Authorities have established helpline numbers to assist families and provide information.

Air India has released a statement confirming the incident and expressing its condolences. The airline stated that the flight manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals. The airline described the incident as a "tragic accident".

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport was temporarily shut down for approximately three hours following the crash but has since resumed operations. A green corridor was established to facilitate the transport of injured individuals, although tragically, there were no survivors. Visuals from the crash site depict a scene of devastation, with debris scattered and smoke billowing into the sky. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was reported to be approximately 11 years old.

This एयर इंडिया (Air India) crash marks the first major plane crash in India in five years. The last fatal plane crash in India involved Air India Express in 2020, where a Boeing 737 overshot a runway in Kozhikode, resulting in 21 fatalities. The incident has raised concerns about aviation safety and the age of aircraft in operation. Boeing has faced increased scrutiny in recent years following several accidents, including two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max in 2018 and 2019.