Tragic Air India Crash in Ahmedabad Claims Over 200 Lives, Including Vijay Rupani
In a catastrophic plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, 12 June 2025, at least 204 people are feared dead after an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off. Among the deceased are former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, cargo business magnate Pramukh Nanda along with two of his family members, and Subhashchandran Amin with his wife.
Miraculously, a British national, Ramesh Vishwaskumar, survived the crash and is being treated for minor injuries, bringing a rare moment of hope in an otherwise devastating tragedy.
The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, lost control moments after departure and crashed into the residential wing of the BJ Medical College campus. Several students dining in the hostel mess sustained serious injuries due to the impact.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik stated that the exact death toll remains uncertain, as rescue and recovery operations are ongoing. Teams from the city fire brigade, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Indian armed forces are engaged in the search and retrieval process. Many of the recovered bodies are severely burnt, making identification extremely difficult.
To facilitate identification, the state government has set up a DNA sample collection centre at the Civil Hospital in Asarva. Families of the victims are being asked to provide DNA samples to enable identification through genetic matching, said Health Principal Secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi.
In response to the tragedy, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced a compensation package of ₹1 crore for the families of each deceased passenger.
Flight operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport were temporarily suspended but have since resumed. An official investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

plane crash into Medical College Mess in Ahmedabad

Boeing 787 crashes in Ahmedabad; students hurt, ex-CM Vijay Rupani, 203 others killed

Air India Crash: 204 Dead, Rupani Among Victims

Boeing 787 crashes in Ahmedabad; students hurt, ex-CM Vijay Rupani, 203 others killed

June 12, 2025 | 20:03 IST