N. Chandrasekaran,Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India,voiced deep sorrow over tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad killing over 270. In an interview, he confessed,“It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died.”
The crash happened June 12,2025, when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed for London went down just after takeoff,hitting medical college complex. As Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau digs into cause,Chandrasekaran urged patience, saying findings could take a month .
Chandrasekaran stressed that flight AI171 had a clean record before crash. “There are speculations about human error, speculations about airlines, speculations about engines, maintenance,all kinds.” The right engine was new in March 2025; the left was serviced in 2023, next check set for December 2025 .
Pilots Captain Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar were both seasoned,with over 11,500 and 3,400 flight hours. Chandrasekaran emphasized their professionalism,“We can’t jump to any conclusions.” Black box,flight recorders will eventually reveal truth.
Recent operational issues,like flight cancellations,have highlighted need for better passenger communication. “We’ve got to do a better job at communication,” Chandrasekaran said,adding a strategic communications team has been formed in response.
Despite scrutiny, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued show-cause notices for unrelated issues. Chandrasekaran clarified these did not concern AI171’s safety. If safety was at risk,DGCA wouldn’t allow operation.
Maintenance questions arose,especially about Turkish Technic links. Chandrasekaran confirmed none of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787s are serviced by Turkish Technic. AI Engineering Services Limited and SIA Engineering Company handle most maintenance.
Ex-Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel criticized Singapore Airlines silence,a key Air India stakeholder. Chandrasekaran defended Singapore Airlines as a valuable partner, saying they’ve boosted safety protocols and processes.
Concerns from whistleblowers about Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner manufacturing are under U.S. investigation. Chandrasekaran said Air India found no red flags with its aircraft.
Post-crash,Air India faced disruptions with cancellations,delays. Chandrasekaran noted airline runs over 1,100 flights daily,with only a small percentage affected. He reaffirmed commitment to better passenger support and communication.
After the tragedy,Chandrasekaran met with Boeing,General Electric execs to ensure thorough aircraft,engine checks . “I have asked them to check and tell us if there have been issues with any of aircraft or engines.”
