Mumbai: Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has broken his silence on the Air India Flight AI171 tragedy, offering a detailed public response and outlining immediate and long-term safety measures.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash, which occurred in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, resulted in the loss of 275 lives. In a televised interview, N Chandrasekaran assured that the Tata Group would stand firmly with the victims’ families and revealed a comprehensive fleet-wide safety review at Air India.
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“This aircraft had a clean history and was commanded by one of our most experienced pilots,” said Chandrasekaran, confirming that both engines were recently serviced and that the aircraft passed its last major check in June 2023. He emphasized that no anomalies were detected prior to take-off.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson added that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot and trainer with over 10,000 hours on widebody aircraft, was leading the flight, assisted by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had 3,400 flying hours.
While confirming that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has validated Air India’s safety protocols, the airline has voluntarily introduced enhanced safety checks across its Boeing 787 and 777 fleets as a proactive measure.
“At Air India, safety has always been our top priority,” said Wilson. “We are committed to going beyond the regulations to restore confidence.”
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Multinational Investigation Underway
Both black boxes have been recovered, and a joint investigation is being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India, along with experts from the U.S. NTSB, UK AAIB, Boeing, and GE Aerospace.
“We must wait for the official report and refrain from premature speculation,” said N Chandrasekaran, adding that the Tata Group is cooperating fully with investigators.
Humanitarian and Financial Support
In an unprecedented gesture of support, the Tata Group has:
- Announced ₹1 crore compensation for each victim’s family
- Pledged to cover all medical expenses for survivors
- Committed to rebuilding the damaged medical hostel
- Initiated the formation of an AI171 Trust to provide long-term support to affected families
“We will stand by them – not just now, but for the long haul,” N Chandrasekaran affirmed, calling the tragedy “deeply personal and heart-wrenching.”
Leadership Amid Crisis
The Tata Group’s swift, transparent, and humane handling of the tragedy has drawn praise from the business community. Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, wrote in The Economic Times: “Leadership isn’t about strategy in moments like this. It’s about presence, empathy, and clarity.”
N Chandrasekaran Invokes Legacy
N Chandrasekaran, who oversaw the 2022 re-acquisition of Air India, invoked the Group’s legacy: “I am no JRD or Ratan Tata. But I’ve grown up with the values they instilled. We will uphold them with integrity and resolve.”
The AI171 tragedy comes at a time when Air India is undergoing a transformational overhaul under Tata ownership. While operational disruptions and added inspections may affect short-term schedules, the Group’s commitment to safety-first operations underscores its long-term vision to rebuild Air India as a world-class carrier.
