Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is feared to have been aboard Air India Flight AI171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London on June 12 . Unverified passenger manifests list "Vijay Ramniklal Rupani" in Business (Z) Class, sparking widespread alarm .

While Hindustan Times and Mint report his presence aboard the doomed Boeing 787, officials from Moneycontrol later clarified that Rupani was not on the flight - leaving the situation in limbo . The uncertainty brings anguish to his supporters in Vadodara and Rajkot, as rescue teams comb through the crash site amid thick plumes of smoke and active rescue operations.

With 242 on board - including 232 passengers and 12 crew - authorities are scrambling to confirm identities, tally survivors, and notify families . State and central officials, including Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Bhupendra Patel, are overseeing rescue efforts .

As the nation holds its breath, immediate questions remain: Was Vijay Rupani really on board? And what does this mean for the public and political landscape in Gujarat? The story is still unfolding - stay tuned.