Crashed Air India plane had ‘clean history', pilots were ‘exceptional': Tata Sons Chairman

Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Wednesday said that the airline's Boeing 787-8 aircraft that crashed moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad on June 12 had a clean history, and the pilots flying it were 'exceptional'. In an interview with Times Now, Chandrasekaran said that it would be best to wait for the investigation to conclude, and not jump to any conclusion on what might have led to the crash, the worst aviation disaster involving an Indian carrier in at least four decades.
The Tata Sons chairman also said that he deeply regrets that the accident happened in a Tata airline, and felt 'very sorry'.
'There are a lot of speculations and a lot of theories. But the fact that I know so far is this particular aircraft, this specific tail…has a clean history. As for the engines, the right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025. Both engine histories are clean,' Chandrasekaran said.
'Both pilots were exceptional. Captain Sabharwal had more than 11,500 hours of flying experience, the first officer Clive had more than 3,400 hours of flying experience. What I hear from colleagues is that they were excellent pilots and great professionals. So, we can't jump to any conclusions…I am told by all the experts that the black box and recorders will definitely tell the story. So, we just have to wait for that,' he added.
An Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed moments after take-off on June 12. The ill-fated aircraft had 242 people on board, but only one survived the accident. There were several casualties on the ground as well. The crash is being investigated by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Chandrasekhar said that he also met with senior officials of Boeing and engine manufacturer GE after the tragedy. He said: 'So I did connect with both Boeing and GE at the highest levels. Parallel to the DGCA checks that we have gone through, I have asked them to check and tell us if there have been issues with any of the aircraft or engines.'
In response to a question on what was his message to the families of those who perished in the crash, Chandradekaran said: 'It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console anyone of them (kin of victims). I just deeply regret that this whole accident happened in a Tata-owned airline. And I feel very sorry, and all we can do is to be with them at this time, grieve with them and we do everything we can to support them at this hour and beyond'.
He said that the Tata group is examining the possibility of establishing a trust to support the families of the crash victims.
'There are structures we want to put in place. One of the things that we have been thinking about is to create a… say for example, a 171 trust, and then which will be available to them to look after. But there are many things, it's not only the financial need,' he said.
The Tatas have already announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the kin of people who died in the crash.
'There may be other needs. So, we have got to think through and then create the trust and other functioning infrastructure so that we can be with these families. Some will not need any help. Some will need some kind of help. Some will need emotional help. We don't know. We have to find this out,' he added.\
Chandrasekaran also said that none of the 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners that are part of Air India's fleet are serviced by Turkish Technic, amid questions being raised about any Turkish link to the aircraft that crashed. 'None of them are maintained by Turkish Technic. Most of them are maintained by AIESL (AI Engineering Services Limited) or SIA Engineering Company (whose parent organisation is Singapore Airlines),' he said.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

an hour ago

• The Hindu

Pickle tales

Pickle is nothing less than a tangy and spicy staple of Indian cuisine. Almost every Indian loves to have it with the main course. Fruits and vegetables are fermented with spices, oil and vinegar to preserve them for a longer duration. Raw mango, jackfruit, garlic, lemon, chilli, tomatoes, the options are endless. Only an Indian can better understand the mouth-watering tanginess of pickle. In the olden days, every home kitchen — mostly women — had a secret recipe for pickles. But with time and modernisation, pickles have emerged as a business option and many brands are selling it with advertisements claiming theirs tastes like grandmother's making. These brands are attempting to deliver the nostalgic taste to urban dwellers who lack the resources to make pickle. Every food item is now available in processed and packed form, and the love for pickle remains strong. But no market-based packed pickles can ever match the taste of the home-made variety of yore. Grandmothers or mothers would preserve pickles in ceramic jars. Among the many memories of summer, one staying brightest is of the pickles. My mother used to prepare pickles on her own. It's an art that needs perfection, patience and right balancing of spicy flavours. Grandmothers and mothers prepare this delicacy every summer with all their fondness to be enjoyed the whole year. The mesmerising taste of pickle, no matter which fruit or vegetable it is of, holds special memories in our life. Every summer story is incomplete without discussing the flavours of taste, and pickle is one such part of it. kirtidimple3007@

Time of India

an hour ago

• Time of India

Kamdar kin: One crash snatched our 3 generations

Nagpur: Ten days after Air India's Ahmedabad-London flight AI-171 crash that claimed over 250 lives, the pain continues to hurt the city's Kamdar family. "One accident destroyed three generations of our family. We are left with an irredeemable void in our hearts," said a family member at a gathering organised on Saturday evening to pay tribute to the lives lost. Members of Nagpur's Gujarati-Jain community came together to stand by the Kamdar family who lost three loved ones in the plane crash. The accident claimed the life of 32-year-old Yasha Kamdar Modha, her mother-in-law Rakshaben Modha, and her young son Rudra. Yasha was described as a lively and affectionate person. A mathematics postgraduate who had moved to Germany after marriage, she was remembered for her quick grasp of German language and her soulful singing. "She picked up German in no time," said a relative. "She was brilliant, but more than that, she was full of life." Emotions ran high as a nostalgic audio clip of Yasha singing a popular 1990s devotional track was played. Her voice resonated through the hall, stirring deep emotions among the attendees. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรด CFDs ด้วยเทคโนโลยีเทรดสุดล้ำ และ รวดเร็วกว่า IC Markets สมัคร Undo Many in the gathering were visibly moved, some quietly wiping away tears. "Hearing her voice again, especially in such a moment of grief, was overwhelming," shared a close family friend. Community elder Kirti Shah told TOI: "This tragedy is not confined to one family — it has affected all of us. Yasha was one of our own. Despite living abroad for several years, she never distanced herself from her roots. She remained connected, involved, and proud of her heritage," she said. Kunal Jain, a long-time friend of the Kamdar family, spoke about the fear and shock the crash had triggered in the community. "It's hard to process something so sudden and irreversible. Accidents like these make you question everything. There's a sense of fear around air travel now," he admitted. "But we also have to remind ourselves that flights are essential in today's world. They connect us, bring families together, and open opportunities. We can't let fear paralyse our lives, even in the face of tragedy." Two other friends of the Kamdars, who wished not to be named, echoed similar sentiments about the family and the respect for them in the community. "The Kamdars were always ready to help anyone in need — quietly, without seeking attention or recognition. They were humble, warm-hearted people who treated everyone like family," one of them said.

India Today

4 hours ago

• India Today

Ground report: Inside Iranian missile-hit Israeli Soroka Hospital

5:16 The report focuses on Indian workers in Baityam, Israel, amid ongoing missile attacks in the Iran-Israel conflict. It describes the destruction of a multi-story building where five people lost their lives. Indian construction workers, residing in Israel for over a year, share their experiences of living under constant threat, with some considering returning to India. They mention frequent visits to shelters and express concerns about their safety and future.