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Months before his life was tragically cut short in the catastrophic Air India crash, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had stepped into the cockpit of a Boeing aircraft — a moment that has taken on a haunting significance in the aftermath of the disaster.

Rupani, who was among the 242 passengers and crew on board Air India’s London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171), died when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. The plane slammed into the hostel and canteen of a nearby medical college, killing all but one person on board and 29 people on the ground.

Now, photos of Rupani’s visit to the Western India Institute of Aeronautics — located at Indus University in Ahmedabad — have resurfaced, stirring powerful emotions. During his visit on April 8, the senior BJP leader had climbed into the cockpit of a decommissioned Boeing 737-200, even posing for photos while seated in the first officer’s seat.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp)

The images show Rupani engaging with aviation students and faculty, his expressions filled with curiosity and interest. One photo captures him speaking with Radhika Bhandari, Dean of Aviation at the university, while standing at the aircraft’s door — a casual moment that now feels eerily poignant.

In an Instagram post written in Gujarati following his visit, Rupani had shared his excitement:
“Today, during a visit to the campus of Indus University in Ahmedabad, I visited the Western India Institute of Aeronautics. During this visit, I saw models of aircraft like Boeing 737, Cessna, Zenith, and MiG-21, and real aircraft as well.”

He went on to describe his interaction with the students: “My conversation with the students of the Aviation Department was full of energy. I wish every Indian student to shine on the global stage.”

Captain Umang Jani, a faculty member who gave Rupani a tour of the aircraft, recalled how deeply interested the former chief minister was. “He was very curious and asked many questions about how the aircraft works,” Jani told The Indian Express. “I tried to explain the cockpit controls and the functioning of the airliner.”

Rupani’s interest in aviation and his warm encouragement to aspiring pilots now echo with a deep sense of loss.

A Journey Delayed — And Fatefully Resumed

Rupani’s tragic flight on June 12 wasn’t originally scheduled. He had first booked a ticket on the same Air India flight — AI 171 — for May 19, planning to visit London to see his wife and daughter. He was supposed to return on June 25.

However, he cancelled that trip and instead rebooked for June 5. That plan too was scrapped, and eventually, he settled on a new itinerary: seat 2D on the June 12 flight — the one that would prove fatal.

The former chief minister, who served from 2016 to 2021 and was a Rajya Sabha member from 2006 to 2012, leaves behind a legacy of public service — now tinged with heartbreaking irony.