Tragedy in the Skies: All 242 Killed in Air India Crash Near Ahmedabad, Former CM Vijay Rupani Among Dead

News Flash

12 June

One Survivor Recounts the Horror: “When I Got Up, There Were Bodies All Around Me” – Vishwash Kumar Ramesh

Ahmedabad: In one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, all 242 passengers and crew aboard Air India flight AI-171 perished after the aircraft crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose untimely death has left the nation in shock.

The ill-fated Tata-owned Air India aircraft, en route to London, took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:50 PM. Within 10 minutes, all signals were lost. The plane went down in a residential area near Meghani Nagar, crashing directly onto the BJ Medical College UG hostel mess, triggering a massive explosion and fireball that engulfed the site.

“Thick black smoke filled the sky… the crash site looked like a war zone,” said an eyewitness from the area.

Among the Lost: Nation Mourns Notable Leaders and Brave Crew

The crash took the lives of 232 passengers, 12 crew members, including two infants. The deceased include:

• Vijay Rupani, Former Gujarat Chief Minister

• Clive Kunder, Mangaluru-based officer and co-pilot

• Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,200 hours of flying experience

• Air Hostess Staff: Sainita Chakraborty, Nganthoi Sharma, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Lamnuntem Singhson, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa

“Vijay Rupani’s contribution to Gujarat and Indian politics was immense. We have lost a patriot and leader,” said a BJP spokesperson.

Survivor’s Shocking Account: “I Stood Up and Ran”

In a miracle of fate, British-Indian national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, aged 40, survived the crash while seated on Seat 11A.

“When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran,” he recounted on social media, still shaken from the horror.

Investigation Underway: DGCA Forms High-Level Probe Panel

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has deputed a high-level team, including:

• Director of Airworthiness

• Asst. Director of Air Fitness

• Flight Operations Inspector

The investigation will focus on suspected technical engine failure, as the pilot had communicated issues with the ATC shortly before the crash.

Flight Operations Suspended, Nation Grieves

Operations at Ahmedabad Airport were suspended indefinitely post-crash. Normal services resumed later that evening after an extensive damage assessment. National flags flew at half-mast in Gujarat, as tributes poured in from across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Chief Ministers from several states expressed profound grief.