‘Singing Songs…’: Vijay Rupani’s Last Conversation With Family Before Air India Crash In Ahmedabad

Last Updated:July 12, 2025, 19:09 IST

Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's son Rushabh recounted their last video call and praised his father's principles and connection with Gujarat.

Vijay Rupani, 68, was among the 275 people killed when the London-bound Air India flight crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad. (ANI)

The family of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the last month’s ill-fated Air India-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, remembered the late leader saying that he was not just a part of their family but of all the families of Gujarat.

Vijay Rupani’s son Rushabh Rupani, recounted his last conversation with his late father saying that there has been a tradition in the family to talk on video calls in morning and evening so they both had a usual conversation on that ill-fated day too.

Rushabh said that he was in the US that time and they both had the conversation about Vijay Rupani going to London to his daughter after two to three years.

“It has been our family’s tradition to talk on video calls in the morning and evening. We spoke that day, too (on the day of the Air India plane crash). I was in America then. We talked about him going to his daughter, my sister’s, house in London after two to three years…" he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Rushabh further said that his daughter (Vijay Rupani’s granddaughter) had a special relationship with him. He said that whenever his call used to come, the two-year-old toddler herself used to take phone and start talking.

He further said that his daughter was singing songs with the later leader when last talked on June 12.

“My daughter is two years old, and had a special relationship with my father. Whenever his call came, she herself started talking to him by taking my phone. She was singing songs with him when we last talked that day," he added.

In an emotional tribute, Rushabh remembered his father as not just a leader of their family but of the entire state. He praised his father’s principles, simplicity, and deep connect with the people of Gujarat, which he said still lives on in their hearts.

“He was not just a part of our family, but a part of all the families of Gujarat. He used to say that ‘vyakti se bada dal, dal se bada desh.’ Even today, his thoughts and principles are alive throughout Gujarat," he added.

He further thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support since the incident on 12 June.

“Both of them came and met our family, and gave us a lot of love. We are thankful for their constant support," he added.

Ahmedabad Plane Crash

Vijay Rupani, 68, was among the 275 people killed when the London-bound Air India flight crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12 afternoon. The deceased include 120 men, 124 women, and 16 children.

One person survived the tragedy. The lone survivor was identified as Indian-origin British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who was returning to the UK with his brother Ajay Kumar Rakesh, 45, who was in a different row inside the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

Meanwhile, the preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the Air India crash was released on Saturday. While it has answered a critical question on what led to the crash just minutes after the flight took off from Ahmedabad airport—cutting off of fuel supply to the engines—it has left many unanswered questions.

(With inputs from ANI)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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