Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has described the crash of Air India Flight AI 171 near Ahmedabad as “one of the darkest days in the Tata Group’s history.” In a heartfelt letter addressed to employees on Friday, he expressed deep sorrow over the incident and conveyed that the entire Group is in mourning, grappling with the incomprehensible tragedy and loss of lives.
Chandrasekaran promised that the Tata Group would maintain complete transparency once the facts behind the crash are established. “Words cannot ease the pain right now, but my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives or were injured in the crash. We are here for them,” he wrote in the letter.
The ill-fated flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, claiming the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board, including 12 crew members.
Air India, now owned by the Tata Group, was officially taken over by the conglomerate on January 27, 2022, marking a significant return nearly 69 years after the airline was nationalised. Air India was originally founded by JRD Tata in 1932.
In his message, Chandrasekaran said immediate efforts are being made to understand the cause of the crash. He confirmed that investigative teams from India, the UK, and the US have reached Ahmedabad to begin a thorough probe, and that the Tata Group is extending full cooperation.
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“Once we have verified facts, we will be transparent in our communication about how this tragedy took place,” he assured.
Amid widespread speculation about what led to the fatal incident, Chandrasekaran appealed for patience, emphasising that only trained investigators can determine the reasons behind such a catastrophic failure. “We owe it to the families and loved ones, to our pilots and crew, and to you. The Tata Group takes its responsibility to society seriously, and that includes being open about what occurred yesterday,” he stated.
Reflecting on the Group’s stewardship of Air India, Chandrasekaran reiterated that passenger safety has always been the company’s highest priority. “There was no compromising on it,” he wrote.
He acknowledged that these commitments may bring little comfort to those grieving unbearable losses. “None of this matters to the people who suffered devastating losses yesterday. At this time, we can only assure them of our full support. We will pull together as a Group and find ways to help them,” he added.
Chandrasekaran concluded his message with a reaffirmation of the Group’s core values. “We built this Group on trust and care. It is a difficult moment, but we will not retreat from our responsibilities, from doing what is right. We will carry this loss. We will not forget.”
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