Ex-CM Rupani dead in Air India plane crash, 204 bodies recovered

More than 200 people were killed when an Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, authorities said, in the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. City police chief GS Malik told Reuters that 204 bodies had been recovered from the crash site  and indicated that the condition of those injured was extremely critical. "And since the airplane has fallen on an area which was residential and had some offices, there are more casualties as well", he said. Malik says possibility of survivors in Air India plane crash cannot be ruled out.Malik said the bodies recovered could include both passengers and people killed on the ground.
The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, Air India said.It was the first crash for the Dreamliner, which began flying commercially in 2011, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The plane that crashed on Thursday flew for the first time in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in January 2014, Flightradar24 said.

Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was on board the crashed Air India flight. Civil Aviation  minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed to reporters that the former leader was on the London-board flight. According to the seat chart, Vijay Rupani, 68, was on seat 2D of the Air India flight. He was on his way to London. BJP Gujarat chief CR Patil has confirmed the demise of former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives at the site of Ahmedabad plane crash. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, MoS Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi are also with him.

Union Home Minister #AmitShah visited the plane crash site in Ahmedabad. pic.twitter.com/P5K63wvog3

— newsinc24 (@newsinc24) June 12, 2025

“Tata Group will provide Rs1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support. Additionally, we will provide support in the building up of the B J Medical's hostel,” Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, said in a statement.
 The Ahmedabad police confirmed that one person has survived the crash. The passenger, who was on seat 11A, was seen walking around -- his white tee shirt and dark trousers barely scorched. As per report, Vishwash Ramesh, a British national, was in India for a few days to visit his family and was going back to the UK along with his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh. He has been admitted at the Civil Hospital in the city. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said, "We are going to do a fair & thorough investigation, and probe why this incident happened. We still have to find out the numbers."

#WATCH | On Air India plane crash, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu says, "We are going to do a fair & thorough investigation, and probe why this incident happened. We still have to find out the numbers."

"Very sad to know that (BJP leader) Vijay Rupani… pic.twitter.com/bpBJBbQlKr

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said images emerging of the crash were "devastating", and that he was being kept informed as the situation developed. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles was also being kept updated. The National Disaster Response Force and two from the BSF, Army and Police are undertake rescue and relief operations at the aircraft crash site in Ahmedabad. 

(State Correspondent)