Air India has significantly increased its focus on safety following a tragic crash in June, CEO Campbell Wilson said, describing the shift as embracing a “new normal.”
The disaster involved Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The accident claimed 241 lives on board and 19 on the ground, marking India’s deadliest air disaster in a decade.
A preliminary investigation in July revealed confusion in the cockpit over fuel shutoff switches, with cockpit recordings capturing one pilot questioning the other about cutting the fuel, which was denied.
Speaking at the Airline Passenger Experience Association conference in California, Wilson stressed the airline’s ongoing support for victims’ families and staff.
“The investigation is still ongoing, so I can’t comment too freely, but this has been an absolutely devastating event. And our focus over the last two months has been very much to support them in every way possible,” he said.
Wilson added that no faults have been found with the aircraft or engines, but Air India has implemented a safety pause to reinforce procedures and ensure a stronger safety culture.
“We’ve taken a significant safety pause. People are fully embracing a new normal of even extra focus on safety,” he added.
The crash occurred during Air India’s modernisation drive, launched after Tata Group’s 2022 privatisation of the 93-year-old carrier. This move enabled long-term investments and upgrades, including orders for nearly 570 new aircraft.
As the investigation proceeds, Air India aims to rebuild confidence by prioritising transparency and continuous safety improvements in an increasingly competitive aviation market.