Ahmedabad plane crash: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was onboard, critically injured

An Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed during take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. 

Among the 230 passengers onboard, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also traveling. He is reported to be in critical condition and has been shifted to Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad for urgent medical treatment.

According to initial reports, Rupani was on his way to London to meet his family when the crash occurred.

The aircraft took off at 1.38 pm from Runway 23, and within two minutes, the rear portion of the plane is believed to have collided with a tree, causing it to lose control and crash into a nearby airport structure. The crash led to major structural damage and injuries to multiple individuals onboard.

ATC sources confirmed that a MAYDAY call was received shortly after take-off. However, communication was lost shortly after the distress signal, and the aircraft crashed just beyond the airport perimeter.