Aviation trade veteran and former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor has come to the defence of Air India because the nationwide service confronts public criticism following the lethal crash of flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad. The incident, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, resulted within the lack of over 260 lives after the plane struck a hostel complicated shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Worldwide Airport. Kapoor, responding to public calls for for a ban on Air India, has urged individuals to keep up perspective relating to this tragedy.
The crash has despatched shockwaves via India’s aviation sector, with the incident marking the nation’s worst aviation catastrophe in additional than a decade. The Directorate Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is conducting an investigation into the crash, with a preliminary report anticipated quickly. Earlier, Air India had elevated the insurance coverage cowl for the ill-fated Dreamliner from Rs 750 crore to Rs 850 crore, whereas the entire declare is estimated to be round Rs 3,000 crore. This vital monetary influence displays the severity of the incident and its implications for the aviation insurance coverage trade.
In gentle of the crash, Kapoor famous, “Wonderful! Tens, even tons of of hundreds are killed in street & rail accidents every year in India — 2,000+ a yr on Mumbai’s suburban rail alone — and other people do not bat an eyelid. Air India has had a stellar security document for many years. One tragedy and other people lose all sense of perspective.” His feedback had been made on X (previously Twitter), as he highlighted the necessity for a balanced view of Air India’s previous security efficiency.
Kapoor additional emphasised the worldwide security document of the Boeing 787, stating, “Perhaps as a result of till the tragedy of AI-171, the Boeing 787 had flown over 5 million flights since its launch with no crash or fatality? Air turnbacks and minor tech glitches happen a number of occasions a day throughout all plane varieties. Flying stays the most secure type of transportation.” These remarks come amidst heightened scrutiny of Air India’s operations, particularly after the cancellation of 66 worldwide flights scheduled with Boeing 787-8 plane.
The airline has clarified that not all cancellations had been attributable to security considerations, attributing some to routine technical snags and others to operational challenges. Regardless of the cancellations, the DGCA has not grounded the Dreamliner fleet however confirmed the cancellations for the reason that crash. Air India maintains that the plane underwent an intensive upkeep test in June 2023, and one other was scheduled for December. This proactive strategy underscores the airline’s dedication to security and operational effectivity.
The aviation tragedy stays below investigation, with the right-side engine of the practically 12-year-old plane having been overhauled in March 2025. Because the aviation neighborhood awaits the DGCA’s findings, Kapoor’s defence of Air India highlights the broader context of airline security and operational challenges confronted by carriers worldwide. The continuing investigation might be essential in figuring out the elements resulting in the crash and making certain future security measures.
