Business Leaders Stand by Air India After Devastating Crash
In the aftermath of the June 12 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash that claimed 275 lives near Ahmedabad airport, prominent business and aviation leaders have stepped forward to defend Air India against mounting criticism.
The tragedy, which occurred shortly after the London Gatwick-bound flight took off, has triggered an unprecedented show of industry solidarity for the Tata Group-owned carrier.
Captain Kishore Chinta, a veteran investigator formerly with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, provided crucial context about the incident’s exceptional nature. The crash represents “the rarest of the rare” scenarios in aviation, Chinta told the BBC. “To my knowledge, nothing quite like this has ever happened,” he emphasised.
Business leader Harsh Goenka of RPG Group has offered strong backing for the airline’s crisis management approach. Writing in The Economic Times, Goenka drew comparisons with the Tata Group’s response to previous emergencies, particularly the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
“This is where the Tata Group stands apart. There were no deflections,” Goenka wrote, applauding the visible leadership and authentic response that avoided typical corporate crisis communication pitfalls.
Adding his voice to the chorus of support, former Jet Airways chief executive Sanjiv Kapoor has pushed back against calls for restrictions on Air India operations. Kapoor reminded critics of the carrier’s historically strong safety performance spanning decades.
“Air India has had a stellar safety record for decades. One tragedy and people lose all sense of perspective,” Kapoor posted on social media platforms.
The aviation expert underscored that the Boeing 787 aircraft type had achieved over 5 million flight operations globally without any previous crashes or fatalities until the AI171 incident. “Flying remains the safest form of transportation,” Kapoor maintained.
The industry response comes amid recognition of Air India’s swift crisis response, with both CEO Campbell Wilson and Chairman N. Chandrasekaran immediately travelling to the crash site.
Chandrasekaran has pledged continued accountability, stating the group would “not retreat from our responsibilities.”
The Tata Group has announced ₹1 crore compensation for each victim’s family.