The number '1206' was very special to former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. It wasn't just a number, it appeared on many things in his life, like the number plate on his scooter and even his official car when he was Chief Minister. For him, 1206 was a lucky number. But sadly, that same number turned tragic.

On June 12, 2025 (12/06), Mr. Rupani passed away in a plane crash. He was 68 years old and one of the 242 people on board Air India Flight AI171, which crashed just after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane was heading to London but crashed into a medical college hostel in Meghani Nagar at 1:40 pm, causing a huge fire.

Mr Rupani was going to London to meet his wife and daughter. He never reached them. He was seated in seat 2D on the flight. Later, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed his death. The crash happened on the 12th of June—12/06—the same number Mr Rupani had always considered lucky. Friends, family, and party members now see it as a sad twist of fate.

Photos taken at Vijay Rupani’s home in Rajkot show his cars still with the number plate '1206'—a number he used for years during his political life. Many BJP leaders, including Gujarat BJP President C.R. Patil, called it a sad and strange coincidence. "Our leader and former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was going to London to meet his family. He also lost his life in this tragedy. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP," Mr Patil said.

What happened

Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM (IST) with 242 people on board, 232 passengers and 10 crew members. The passenger list included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese citizens.

Just after takeoff, the plane started losing height. People nearby recorded videos of the aircraft flying too low before it crashed into a medical college hostel. It hit the dining hall area where food was still on plates, now scattered in the wreckage.

About Vijay Rupani

Vijay Rupani was Gujarat’s 16th Chief Minister from August 2016 to September 2021. He was born in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma, in 1956. Due to political problems there, his family moved to Rajkot in the 1960s. He began his political journey as a student activist and became a local municipal member in Rajkot in 1987. Over the years, he served in many important roles, including as a minister for transport, water supply, and labour.

Even after stepping down in 2021 to make way for Bhupendra Patel, Mr Rupani stayed active in the BJP. He worked as a senior advisor and helped shape state policies and election strategies.