Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran Urges Patience in Air India Crash Probe, Says No Red Flags Detected Prior to Tragedy

Tata Sons and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran on Wednesday addressed the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI171, describing it as an “extremely difficult situation” and emphasizing that there had been no prior red flags with the aircraft or its engines. He urged against speculation, stating that a full understanding would only come after the black box analysis is complete.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London with 242 people onboard, crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad seconds after takeoff on June 12, killing all passengers and several people on the ground. The incident stands as one of the deadliest air disasters in India’s aviation history.

Speaking to Times Now, Chandrasekaran expressed deep regret:

“It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died. I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. All we can do is to stand by the families, grieve with them, and support them now and in the future.”

Investigation and Initial Observations

Chandrasekaran confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the probe, supported by a high-level government-appointed committee. While he acknowledged the widespread speculation around pilot error, mechanical failure, and maintenance lapses, he reiterated that the aircraft had no known issues.

“We can’t jump to any conclusions. Both engines were in good condition. The right engine was newly installed in March 2025; the left engine had last undergone maintenance in 2023 and was due again in December 2025.”

He also noted the strong qualifications of the cockpit crew.

“Captain Sabharwal had over 11,500 hours of flight experience and First Officer Clive Kundar over 3,400 hours. I am told they were exceptional professionals.”

Addressing Speculation and Misinformation

Responding to media questions about DGCA notices and penalties imposed on Air India, Chandrasekaran clarified:

“These notices are unrelated to the AI171 crash. If there were any safety issues, the DGCA would not allow the aircraft to operate.”

On speculation involving Turkish maintenance links, he stated firmly:

“None of our 33 Dreamliners are maintained by Turkish Technic. Most are handled by AIESL or SIA Engineering Company.”

Chandrasekaran also addressed concerns raised by former civil aviation minister Praful Patel regarding the silence of Singapore Airlines, Air India’s joint venture partner:

“Singapore Airlines has been a great partner. Their CEO is in constant touch with me and they’ve offered all possible help.”

Boeing and GE Involvement

Chandrasekaran confirmed ongoing discussions with senior leadership at Boeing and GE:

“I did connect with both at the highest levels and asked them to conduct checks and share if any issues had been flagged regarding our aircraft or engines.”

When asked about recent whistleblower allegations against Boeing’s manufacturing practices, he said these are under investigation in the U.S. and that no red flags had emerged in Air India’s internal assessments.

Post-Crash Impact and Public Response

The crash has triggered a wave of flight cancellations and delays across Air India’s network, frustrating passengers. Chandrasekaran acknowledged the issue:

“We’ve got to do a better job at communication. In the last three days, we’ve set up a strategic communications team to improve how we handle such situations.”

He concluded by reiterating the airline’s commitment to transparency and accountability and stressed the importance of allowing the investigation to run its full course:

“The black box and recorders will tell the full story. Until then, we must avoid speculation.”