In a deeply emotional letter to employees, Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekharan described June 12—the day of the Air India Flight AI171 crash—as "one of the darkest days in the Tata Group's history." His message comes in the wake of a catastrophe that killed 242 people, including all passengers and crew on board, and several individuals on the ground. The flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London, striking a medical hostel building.
Chandrasekharan acknowledged the magnitude of the loss, stating:
“To lose a single person we know is a tragedy, but for so many deaths to occur at once is incomprehensible.”
He emphasized that the group is in shock and mourning, and reassured employees and the public that the Tata Group is fully committed to transparency and accountability.
Key Points from the Chairman’s Letter:
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Multinational Investigative Effort: Teams from India, the UK, and the US have reached Ahmedabad within 24 hours to begin a full investigation. This includes representatives from the AAIB (India), UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), alongside Boeing engineers.
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Full Cooperation & Transparency: Chandrasekharan pledged the group’s complete cooperation with investigators and assured that all verified findings would be communicated publicly.
“Once we have verified facts, we will be transparent in our communication about how this tragedy took place.”
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Unwavering Commitment to Safety: Reflecting on the Tata Group's acquisition of Air India in January 2022, the chairman reiterated that passenger safety has always been the top priority. He stressed that there had been no compromise on safety standards since the takeover.
This statement from Chandrasekharan not only expresses the depth of the group's sorrow, but also reflects the weight of responsibility that the Tata Group carries as the custodian of a national airline. His remarks underscore the moral and operational accountability expected of India’s most respected conglomerate.
As the investigation unfolds, the Tata Group’s commitment to honest introspection and public accountability will be critical in helping restore trust and shape future aviation safety protocols in India.
