Vijay Rupani, one of India's 100 most powerful men, died on AI Flight 171.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is on the passenger list of the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. Authorities have not yet confirmed his death, but his presence on board has already caused a stir in India and around the world.

Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed just minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad, India. There were 242 people on board: 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The accident, which occurred around 1:38 p.m. local time, has left at least 204 confirmed dead, making it one of the worst air accidents in recent years in the country.

The official passenger list released by Indian media includes a name that has made headlines: Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat and one of India's most influential politicians of the last decade. Although Air India has yet to officially confirm his death, his name appears to be assigned to seat 2A in business class, with PNR code QK9T4L.

Vijay Rupani, 68, was a key figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party of current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2016, succeeding Anandiben Patel, and during his tenure, he managed to consolidate the BJP's political control in one of the country's most strategic states.

In 2021, the influential Indian Express newspaper included him on its prestigious “Power List,” which lists the 100 most powerful people in India, ranking him 74th that year. He had previously appeared on the 2019 list.

His prominence increased after leading the BJP to sweeping victories in municipal, panchayat, and district elections, cementing his image as an effective and disciplined political operator within the party.

On a personal level, Rupani was also known for his unusual history: during the State of Emergency in India , he was imprisoned for opposing the regime, and during that time in prison, he learned to speak Russian, a language he continued to read throughout his life. His personal tastes included his fondness for puran poli, a traditional sweet dish from Indian cuisine.

The fact that a politician of this stature could be among the victims of the crash has shaken the Indian political class. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the President of India, various leaders have expressed their condolences for the tragedy, while aviation authorities are working on analyzing the plane's black boxes, which have already been recovered.

The Boeing 787 that crashed was one of the most modern models in Air India's fleet, and there has been no record of fatal accidents involving this type of aircraft since it entered service in 2011.

Initial investigations indicate that the pilots issued a Mayday call seconds after takeoff, but were unable to regain control before the plane crashed into a building on the BJ Medical College campus, a few kilometers from the airport.