Latest news with #BalwantraiMehta
The Print
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Rupani's death reopens old chapter—wartime shootdown of another Gujarat CM & Pakistani pilot's apology
The crash has reopened an old chapter in India's military and political history; the 1965 wartime shootdown of Gujarat's second chief minister, Balwantrai Mehta, a Congress stalwart and widely regarded as the 'architect of Panchayati Raj', who remains the first and only Indian politician to be killed in wartime action in the subcontinent. Former CM Rupani died Thursday when the London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, slamming into a hostel housing students of B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. New Delhi: BJP leader Vijay Rupani is the second Gujarat chief minister, serving or former, to die in an air crash, reviving memories of Balwantrai Mehta, who was killed in 1965 when his civilian VIP aircraft was shot down by a Pakistani fighter jet during the India-Pakistan war. On 19 September, 1965, at the height of the India-Pakistan War, a civilian aircraft, an eight-seater Beechcraft Model 18 belonging to the Gujarat government, was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force, killing all eight people onboard, including Gujarat's second chief minister, Balwantrai Mehta. It was reported that accompanying him were his wife Sarojben Mehta, three senior aides, a journalist from Gujarat Samachar and two pilots—former IAF Sqn Ldr Jehangir 'Jangoo' Engineer and co-pilot D'Costa. The incident unfolded during a particularly volatile phase of the 1965 war. Following Pakistani infiltrations into Kashmir in August and a subsequent Indian counter-offensive, full-scale fighting had broken out on land, sea and in the air. By September, both air forces were on high alert. Mehta's visit was reportedly aimed at reassuring residents after a recent Pakistani naval strike on the coastal town of Dwarka. However, the flight's path brought it perilously close to the India-Pakistan border. The Beechcraft Model 18, an American-made twin-engine aircraft used widely for short-range executive travel, was part of the Gujarat government's fleet. The destination was Mithapur, a small airport on the Gulf of Kutch, about 400 km from Ahmedabad. It was initially reported that the IAF had denied clearance for the flight due to the ongoing conflict but later relented under pressure from the state government. That morning in Ahmedabad, Mehta had addressed a National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally before returning home for lunch. Around 1.30 pm, he and his party drove to the civil airport. The plane took off at around 1.50 pm, with an estimated arrival time of 3.30 pm in Mithapur. Around the same time, Pakistani radar stations near Badin in Sindh picked up a slow-moving, unidentified aircraft near the Rann of Kutch. The PAF scrambled two F-86 Sabre jets from Mauripur near Karachi to intercept the aircraft. One of the jets aborted takeoff, leaving a rookie pilot, Flying Officer Qais Hussain, to pursue the target alone. Furthemore, owing to communication issues, Hussain had to rely on relayed instructions from another pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kazmi, who remained at a higher altitude. Upon visual contact, Hussain reported spotting a twin-engine, twin-tail aircraft with four windows on each side, similar in appearance to the Indian Air Force's C-119 'Packet' military transport aircraft. Although the Beechcraft crew reportedly waggled their wings, an aerial gesture meant to indicate a civilian aircraft, Hussain was ordered to engage. He circled the aircraft before firing two bursts from his .50 calibre guns. The first hit the left wing; the second, the right engine. The Beechcraft caught fire and crashed into the desert near Suthali village, roughly 100 km from Bhuj. All eight aboard were killed. The incident sent shockwaves across Gujarat and the country. Soon, the All India Radio confirmed the tragedy later that evening, followed by India condemning the attack as 'cowardly,' stating the plane was unarmed and civilian. Meanwhile, the PAF justified the action by citing the plane's proximity to a still-undefined wartime border and suspicions of a reconnaissance mission. What PAF pilot wrote 46 yrs later & pilot's daughter's response Unexpectedly, in the first week of August 2011, nearly five decades after the crash, the former Pakistani Air Force pilot Hussain reached out to Farida Singh, daughter of Sqn Ldr Jehangir Engineer (Retd), in an email titled 'Condolence'. Sqn Ldr Jehangir (Retd), who flew the Beechcraft, was one of four brothers who served in the IAF. His brother, Air Chief Marshal Aspy Engineer, had served as Chief of Air Staff in 1960; another, Air Marshal Minoo Engineer, led the Western Air Command during the 1971 war; and a third, Group Captain Ronnie Engineer, also held senior IAF positions. Post retiring from both the IAF and Indian Airlines, Jangoo went on to become Chief Pilot for the Maharashtra government and had later joined the Gujarat government on deputation. In his message to Farida, which was widely circulated across media outlets, the retired PAF pilot had shared his version of the incident and expressed his condolences. 'The incident happened 46 years back but it is as fresh in my mind as if it had happened yesterday,' he wrote. He recounted how the aircraft had appeared to stray off course over the Rann of Kutch, prompting concerns among radar operators. He had been scrambled alone on a two-minute alert. 'I caught sight of him at 3,000 feet and made a pass so close that I could read his markings and the number of the aircraft,' Hussain recalled. 'Your father spotted my presence immediately and he started climbing and waggling his wings seeking mercy.' He said that he had reported these signs back to radar control. 'Instead of firing at him at first sight, I relayed to my controller that I had intercepted an eight-seater transport aircraft (guessing by the four-side windows) and wanted further instructions to deal with it. At the same time, I was hoping that I would be called back without firing a shot. There was a lapse of 3 to 4 long minutes before I was given clear orders to shoot the aircraft. 'After the shooting, I had a sense of achievement and satisfaction that I had completed my mission and destroyed any recce data that might have been collected to open a new war front. I landed back at Mauripur, Karachi, with my fuel tanks bone dry and was greeted by my seniors and other squadron colleagues. Later that evening, All India Radio announced the names of the occupants who had lost their lives in that aircraft.' Hussain said he was a soldier following orders. 'I did not play foul and went by the rules of business,' he wrote. 'But the unfortunate loss of precious lives, no matter how it happens, hurts each human and I am no exception.' Farida Singh replied later that same week, describing the 1965 shootdown a defining moment in her family's life, though she held no personal animosity. 'We never, not for one moment, bore bitterness or hatred for the person who actually pulled the trigger and caused my father's death,' she wrote. 'The fact that this all happened in the confusion of a tragic war was never lost on us. We are all pawns in this terrible game of War and Peace.' She remembered her father as 'an ace pilot if ever there was one… strong in body and spirit,' and added, 'this incident is indeed a prime example of what damage strife and mindless battles can drive even good men to do… I am glad that it is now public as it can do nothing but heal wounds… My father would have liked that it goes towards bringing a spark of forgiveness between our two peoples, who after all were one.' Subsequently, as the country comes to terms with the Air India crash that left 241 dead including Vijay Rupani, the 1965 loss of Balwantrai Mehta remains a rare instance of a political figure killed in wartime air action. Though nearly six decades apart, both incidents stand out as uncommon cases of serving or former chief ministers lost in aviation disasters. What followed Mehta's death years later, was an exchange that stood out, offering, if briefly, a glimpse of shared vulnerability between nations divided by endless conflict. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Vijay Rupani killed in Air India crash, 2nd Gujarat CM lost to an aviation tragedy
India Today
13-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
When a Pak fighter jet shot down Gujarat CM's plane 60 years ago
It was the height of the 1965 India-Pakistan war. And 25-year-old Pakistani Flying Officer Qais Hussain, flying a Sabre jet, was patrolling the tense skies over Bhuj and eastern Sindh. On spotting a civilian aircraft, Hussain sought permission and, once granted, fired at the Beechcraft. Feeling triumphant that he had foiled an enemy surveillance operation, Hussain returned to his base in later, when All India Radio's 7 pm bulletin announced that a plane carrying Gujarat's then Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta and seven civilians had been shot down by Pakistan, Hussain's pride gave way to shock, disbelief, and a lifelong CM Balwantrai Mehta, pilot Jahangir Engineer, and a journalist were among the eight people killed after their Beechcraft aircraft was shot down by the Pakistani fighter. Almost 60 years after Balwantrai Mehta, known as the father of Panchayati Raj, lost his life in an air tragedy, Vijay Rupani, who had served as the Gujarat CM between 2016 and 2021, died in an air crash in Ahmedabad. The Air India flight to London, carrying Rupani, crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport with 242 people on board. All but one perished as the aircraft stalled mid-air and burst into flames upon hitting the a moment to revisit the 1965 tragedy that claimed Balwantrai Mehta's life, a rare and haunting instance when political leadership was quite literally lost mid-air. Balwantrai Mehta is called the father of Panchayati Raj because he led the 1957 committee that recommended democratic decentralisation through a three-tier system of local self-governance, laying the foundation for grassroots democracy in India. (Image: India Post) GUJARAT CM'S FLIGHT INTO THE FOG OF 1965 WARThe 1965 India-Pakistan war, which began in August, had reached a critical point by the UN Security Council on September 22 passed a resolution calling for an unconditional ceasefire, India accepted it immediately. Pakistan, however, delayed its response, finally agreeing to it a day later, on September as international pressure mounted to restore peace, the skies over the subcontinent remained same afternoon, Gujarat CM Balwantrai Mehta was on his way to Mithapur, near the Gulf of Kutch, accompanied by his wife Sarojben, three aides, and two eight-seater Beechcraft aircraft was piloted by Jahangir Engineer, the state government's chief pilot and a veteran of the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The group took off from Ahmedabad not knowing that they were flying into BALWANTRAI MEHTA'S PLEA IN THE SKY GOES UNHEEDEDadvertisementFlying Officer Qais Hussain of the Pakistan Air Force had taken off from the Mauripur Airbase near Karachi along with Flight Lieutenant Bukhari in US-made F-86 Sabre fighter Bukhari had to return due to fuel issues, Hussain continued towards the border after receiving a report from ground control that an unidentified aircraft was flying near Pakistan's airspace. Amid the heightened tensions of war, the unidentified aircraft was suspected to be on a reconnaissance mission, possibly signalling an Indian attempt to open a new front in the Rann of at 20,000 feet, Hussain was directed to drop to 3,000, the same level at which Mehta's Beechcraft was Hussain closed in, he spotted the Beechcraft marked with Indian insignia. Pakistani ground control instructed him to Beechcraft noticed the approaching Pakistani Sabre and began ascending, waggling its wings, a universal plea for clemency in air the Indian aircraft's distress signal, Hussain opened fire. His first burst tore through the left wing, and the second set the right engine ablaze. Moments later, the aircraft crashed near the India-Pakistan border in the Kutch region, killing all eight people on board, including CM the shooting, I had a sense of achievement and satisfaction that I had completed my mission and destroyed any recce data that might have been collected to open a new war front," Hussain later HUSSAIN LEARNS HE SHOT DOWN A CHIEF MINISTERAfter shooting down the Indian plane, Hussain sped back to the Karachi base."I landed back at Mauripur, Karachi with my fuel tanks bone dry and was greeted by my seniors and other squadron colleagues. Later that evening, All India Radio announced the names of the occupants who had lost their lives in that aircraft...," Hussain then did Hussain learn the full gravity of what had happened, that he had killed a sitting Indian Chief Minister and other civilians. It was a rare moment during an international conflict: a political leader downed in wartime airspace by military misjudgement or perhaps asked his superiors why he had been ordered to shoot down what was clearly a civilian aircraft. The explanation: the plane was dangerously close to the border, and there were fears that India might open a second front in the Rann of YEARS LATER, QAIS HUSSAIN SEEKS FORGIVENESSNearly 46 years later, in 2011, a retired Qais Hussain read an article in a Pakistani defence journal about the 1965 incident where shots fired by him killed 8 civilians, including a high-profile by the past and seeking closure, Hussain tracked down the daughter of pilot Jahangir Engineer, Farida Singh, in Mumbai and wrote her an email seeking the email, Hussain expressed sorrow for his actions but maintained that he was simply following orders in a time of war."I want to tell you that I did not pull the trigger out of malice," he wrote. "It was war. I followed the rules of engagement and carried out the command." He ended the letter with condolences to all eight families who had lost loved ones in the crash."For a moment, I wished I had returned without firing... But I was a soldier. And a soldier must follow orders," Hussain later said in an Farida Singh responded with surprising her reply, Singh admitted the loss of her father had shaped her life, but said she had never felt hatred towards the man who caused it. "I realised that in war, even good people are forced to do terrible things. We were all pawns in a larger game", she Beechcraft carrying Balwantrai Mehta was not the only one; it was one of the four civilian or non-combat aircraft which came under Pakistani fire during the 1965 War. But the loss of a sitting Chief Minister made it rarely repeats with such cruel precision, but it has now claimed Gujarat Chief Ministers twice mid-air, once in war and once in Watch
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Vijay Rupani's death in Ahmedabad plane crash brings back Indo-Pak war memories when Gujarat lost another CM to the skies
Gujarat plunged into mourning on Thursday as former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was confirmed dead in the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI-171 , rekindling the state's painful memory of losing another sitting Chief Minister, Balwantrai Mehta , in an aviation tragedy during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner had just taken off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when it plummeted into the Meghani Nagar locality, barely five minutes into its ascent. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, exploded into a fireball, engulfing homes and sending thick smoke billowing into the city's skyline. Eyewitnesses reported a deafening boom and a wave of panic as emergency crews raced to contain the fire and comb through the wreckage for survivors. Among the confirmed dead was 68-year-old Vijay Rupani, a senior BJP leader who had served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021. He was flying Business Class, reportedly listed as passenger number 12 on the manifest. His death stunned political corridors and left the Rajkot West constituency — which he long represented — reeling with grief. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Reduza custos logísticos Sistema TMS embarcador Saiba Mais Undo A Personal Loss Beyond Politics Rupani is survived by his wife and two children. His family had already endured deep sorrow years earlier when his youngest son, Pujit, died in an accident. That loss led to the establishment of the Pujit Rupani Memorial Trust, a philanthropic foundation that worked quietly but persistently across Gujarat on charitable initiatives. His untimely death cuts short the life of a leader remembered for his grounded demeanour, administrative continuity, and efforts to strengthen urban infrastructure during his term as CM. His calm presence in Gujarat's political landscape will be deeply missed. You Might Also Like: Ahmedabad plane crash: Who were the only 2 survivors of the 1988 Indian Airlines flight tragedy in which over 100 passengers died? Echoes from the Past: The Balwantrai Mehta Tragedy The devastating loss of Vijay Rupani reopens a painful chapter in Gujarat's history — the death of Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Mehta, often hailed as the 'Architect of Panchayati Raj' for his pioneering work on democratic decentralisation, was a towering figure in post-independence Indian politics. He had been a freedom fighter, imprisoned multiple times during British rule, and later served as a Lok Sabha MP and member of the Congress Working Committee under Jawaharlal Nehru. On 19 September 1965, while flying from Mithapur to the Kutch border in a civilian Beechcraft aircraft piloted by former Indian Air Force officer Jahangir Engineer, Mehta's plane was mistakenly shot down by the Pakistan Air Force. The Pakistani pilot, Qais Hussain, assumed the aircraft to be on a reconnaissance mission and acted on orders to engage. The tragic incident claimed the lives of Mehta, his wife, three staff members, a journalist, and two crew members. In a deeply symbolic gesture decades later, Qais Hussain wrote a letter to Engineer's daughter, apologizing for the fatal mistake — an extraordinary footnote in the annals of wartime aviation and diplomacy. You Might Also Like: Ahmedabad plane crash victim's final 'Goodbye India' post is now a haunting reminder of life's uncertainty Investigation Underway As news of Rupani's death spread, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state officials, assuring full central support for the ongoing investigation and rescue operations. Aviation experts suggested that the aircraft's full international fuel load likely intensified the blaze, hampering recovery and identification efforts. A formal probe by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is underway, with technical assistance expected from Boeing engineers. As the nation grieves, political observers and citizens alike are struck by the symbolism — how the skies, vehicles of progress and connectivity, have twice snatched away Gujarat's leadership. A Tragic Pattern That Haunts Indian Politics Rupani's death adds his name to a somber list of Indian political figures lost to air accidents . From Madhavrao Scindia and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to Dorjee Khandu and O.P. Jindal, the recurring theme of political journeys cut short by aviation disasters continues to haunt India's democratic narrative. For Gujarat, this is not just the death of a former Chief Minister — it is a haunting repetition, a tragic déjà vu, and a reminder of how leadership, even at its highest echelons, remains vulnerable to the cruel whims of fate. You Might Also Like: Ahmedabad airport crash flashback: 37 years ago, Indian Airlines Flight 113 accident killed over 100 people
Mint
12-06-2025
- Mint
Former CM Vijay Rupani becomes second Chief Minister from Gujarat to die in plane crash
Air India Plane Crash: In a devastating aviation tragedy on June 12, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. Among those dead was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was travelling to London to meet his daughter. The London-bound flight AI171 lost altitude just minutes into its ascent and crashed into a residential building near the airport, sparking a massive fire and widespread panic. The Ahmedabad Police Commissioner confirmed the recovery of 204 bodies, with many more injured admitted to hospitals. Vijay Rupani's death places him among a tragic list of Indian Chief Ministers who have lost their lives in air accidents. He is the second former Gujarat Chief Minister to die in such a disaster, joining Congress leader Balwantrai Mehta, the state's second Chief Minister, whose plane was shot down during the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Balwantrai Mehta's aircraft was attacked by a Pakistani Air Force pilot, killing him, his wife, three staff members, two crew, and a journalist. Other notable Chief Ministers who died in air crashes include YS Rajasekhara Reddy of Andhra Pradesh, who perished in a helicopter crash in 2009 due to bad weather and mechanical failure, and Dorjee Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh, who died in a helicopter crash in 2011 amid challenging terrain and weather conditions. Flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed Ahmedabad airport at 1:38 pm with 242 people onboard, including nationals from India, the UK, Canada, and Portugal. Just minutes after takeoff, the Air India plane lost altitude and crashed into a doctor's hostel building in the Meghani Nagar area, near the Ahmedabad airport perimeter. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is considered one of the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft in service, with a strong safety record and no previous fatal accidents. Boeing has stated it is cooperating fully with investigators. The aircraft involved had an average flight time of over 41,000 hours. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with the black box recovered to provide crucial data. Died in September 1965 when his plane was shot down by the Pakistani Air Force during the Indo-Pak war, killing all onboard including his wife and staff. Died in a helicopter crash in 2009 due to mechanical failure and bad weather while flying over dense forest terrain. All onboard perished. Lost his life in a helicopter crash in 2011 during adverse weather conditions in the mountainous region of Arunachal Pradesh.
Mint
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Air India Plane Crash: Ex-Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani dies in devastating Ahmedabad tragedy
Air India Plane Crash: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was onboard the London-bound Air India flight that tragically crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad, has passed away. Vijay Rupani is the second former Gujarat Chief Minister to have died in an air disaster. BJP leader CR Patil confirmed to reporters the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad and offered his condolences to the departed soul. According to reports, Vijay Rupani was listed as passenger number 12 on the flight manifest and booked in the Z class, which is under the business class category. He is survived by his wife, Anjali Rupani, and two children — a son and a daughter. Vijay Rupani: Second Gujarat CM to Die in Plane Crash Vijay Rupani joins a tragic list of Chief Ministers who have died in air accidents. Other notable leaders include Dorjee Khandu, former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, who died in a helicopter crash in 2011, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, who died in a helicopter crash in 2009, and Balwantrai Mehta, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, who died in a plane crash in 1965. Congress leader Balwantrai Mehta was the second chief minister of Gujarat. His plane was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force pilot in September 1965, resulting in a crash that killed him, his wife, three of his staff members, two crew members and a journalist. Air India Plane Crash: Politicians Mourn Demise of Vijay Rupani BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill posted a condolence message for the ex- Gujarat Chief Minister on X. "Saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of Shri Vijay Rupani Ji (Former CM, Gujarat & BJP Incharge for Punjab) in the unfortunate #AirIndiaCrash. Rupani Ji was a kind, grounded visionary leader. His dedicated efforts to strengthen the BJP's presence in Punjab & his invaluable contribution to the nation's political landscape will always be remembered." he wrote. Punjab's ex-Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also posted on X, saying, 'Saddened by the tragic demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Vijay Rupani Ji in the unfortunate plane crash near Ahmedabad. His unwavering commitment to public service will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones in this moment of grief.' Who was Vijay Rupani? Vijay Rupani, born in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) in 1956, was a prominent BJP leader who served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021, completing two consecutive terms. Before becoming Chief Minister, he held key roles including Mayor of Rajkot, Rajya Sabha MP, state cabinet minister, and BJP state president. Vijay Rupani political journey began with student activism in the ABVP, followed by involvement with the RSS and Jan Sangh, and he was imprisoned during the Emergency. Rupani was known for his calm leadership and welfare initiatives, and he also served as BJP incharge for Punjab before stepping back from electoral politics in 2022. Coming from a Jain family that moved from Myanmar to Rajkot in 1960, Rupani was deeply rooted in grassroots politics. He was a two-time MLA representing Rajkot West and held important portfolios such as transport, labour, and water supply in the Gujarat cabinet. Recognised for his influence, he was named among the Indian Express's Top 100 Most Influential Indians in 2021. Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed in a residential area here minutes after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. Many people were feared killed. The Ahmedabad Police Commissioner has stated that 204 bodies have been recovered, and at least 50 injured individuals have been admitted to hospitals.
