Air India Chairman and Tata Sons head N Chandrasekaran has publicly apologised for the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 that claimed over 270 lives in Ahmedabad on June 12, calling it a moment of “deep regret” for the Tata Group.
In an exclusive interview with Times Now Group Editor-in-Chief Navika Kumar, Chandrasekaran expressed sorrow over the incident and pledged unwavering support to the bereaved families. “I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. I feel very sorry. All we can do is to be with the families, grieve with them, and support them at this hour and beyond,” he said.
While investigations by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are ongoing, Chandrasekaran cautioned against speculation and stressed that AI-171 had a clean operational history. He noted that the aircraft’s engines were well-maintained and both pilots—Captain Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar—were highly experienced professionals.
“There are a lot of speculations—about human error, engines, maintenance—but the aircraft had no red flags,” he said. The black box, he added, will be key to understanding what happened.
Responding to public concerns over potential Turkish links, Chandrasekaran clarified that none of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners are serviced by Turkish Technic. Most are maintained by AIESL or Singapore’s SIA Engineering.
He also rejected former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel’s claim that Singapore Airlines had operational responsibility, saying, “Singapore Airlines has been a great partner, but the current Air India CEO Campbell Wilson is not their nominee. He left Singapore Airlines and joined us when we owned 100% of Air India.”
Chandrasekaran reminded viewers that the 787s were procured as early as 2013—long before the Tata takeover.
Addressing recent cancellations and delays in Air India services, Chandrasekaran attributed them to three primary factors: DGCA-mandated checks on all Dreamliners post-crash, airspace closures due to the Iran conflict, and routine technical issues.
“24 of the 33 Dreamliners have already undergone these checks. But we understand passenger concerns and know we must improve our communication. We’ve set up a strategic communications team to address this.”
Chandrasekaran confirmed that he had reached out to Boeing and GE “at the highest levels” following the crash and has requested them to conduct their own reviews of the aircraft and engine performance.
He also announced plans to set up a long-term support mechanism for affected families. “We wish to create an AI-171 trust—not just for financial aid but for other needs too. This is not a one-time response, but a continuing commitment.”
On criticism over Air India CEO Campbell Wilson’s video message—allegedly plagiarised from an American Airlines statement—Chandrasekaran said he would review the issue but emphasized the “spirit” of the message was sincere.
He also pushed back against allegations that Air India ignored the funerals of deceased crew members. “It is not true. Our Chief Operating Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, and others were present. We have ensured senior representatives are visiting all affected families across the country.”
In a heartfelt closing, Chandrasekaran acknowledged the profound grief caused by the tragedy. “It’s an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express. But we are with the families. We will continue to stand by them—not just now but always.”
The AI-171 crash has become one of the deadliest in Indian aviation history. Investigations are ongoing, with aviation authorities and Air India pledging full cooperation.
