Tata Sons and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran has addressed the media for the first time since the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash, calling it an “extremely difficult situation” and urging the public to avoid speculation until the black box analysis is complete.
Speaking in an interview with Times Now, Chandrasekaran said there were no prior red flags with the aircraft and both engines were in good condition.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as AI171 from Ahmedabad to London, crashed seconds after takeoff on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and several others on the ground. The flight struck a medical college complex shortly after takeoff.
Chandrasekaran expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. “There are no words to console the families. All we can do is stand by them and offer full support during this painful time,” he said.
Regarding possible causes of the accident, the chairman clarified that the aircraft had no history of technical issues, with one engine newly installed in March 2025 and the other last serviced in 2023, due for maintenance only in December. He emphasized that speculation about human error, mechanical faults, or airline negligence was premature. “The black box will reveal the truth,” he added.
Chandrasekaran strongly defended the airline’s pilot team, noting that Captain Sabharwal had 11,500+ flying hours, while First Officer Clive Kundar had more than 3,400 hours. “Both were excellent professionals,” he affirmed.
Amid concerns over DGCA’s prior safety notices, he clarified those were unrelated to this specific aircraft. He also denied any maintenance link with Turkish Technic, stating that none of Air India’s 33 Dreamliners are serviced by them—most are handled by AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) or SIA Engineering Company.
Addressing customer frustration over delays and cancellations following the crash, Chandrasekaran admitted communication needed improvement. “A strategic communications team has now been put in place to handle updates better,” he noted.
The chairman confirmed meetings with senior executives of Boeing and GE, asking them to review aircraft and engine records. He also addressed concerns over Boeing’s global scrutiny, saying investigations were ongoing abroad but no red flags were detected in AI171’s records.
This incident, one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters, continues to be probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with support from US and UK agencies. Preliminary findings are expected in a month.
