India, June 12 -- Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the 242 passengers on board the crashed Air India flight, died in the plane crash. Speaking to reporters, Gujarat BJP Chief CR Patil confirmed the demise of the former Chief Minister.

Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday afternoon.

The BJP leader's presence on board the London-bound flight was confirmed by his family and civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu.

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"Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going (to London) to meet his family. He is also a victim inf this incident. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP," Patil told PTI...