Wings of Assurance: Air India’s Chandrasekaran on Safety, Sorrow, and Moving Forward

After the deadly Air India AI-171 crash near Ahmedabad, Air India and Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has broken his silence, attempting to clear rumors and dispel fears over the overall safety record of the airline. In an exclusive interview with Times Now, Chandrasekaran again asserted that the crashed Boeing 787 Dreamliner had a "clean history" and no outstanding maintenance issues prior to the accident.

 

Key Highlights

Impressive Maintenance Record: Chandrasekaran saw to it that the aircraft that crashed had an impeccable maintenance record. The engine on the right side had been newly replaced in March 2025, and the left engine was serviced in 2023 and was not yet due for inspection until December 2025.

 

No Red Flags: He firmly declared, "There were no red flags or maintenance problems," observing that the Dreamliner flight status was normal for the industry and that no safety concerns for this particular aircraft or the entire Dreamliner fleet ever had been discovered.

 

Current Investigation: Chandrasekaran asked the public and the media to refrain from being quick to make any assumptions, and it takes a technical examination in depth and the black box recordings of the aircraft to understand what the actual reason behind the crash is. He again emphasized Air India's complete cooperation with investigators from India, the UK, the US, and Boeing.

 

Public Reassurance: The chairman condemned the tragedy and urged citizens to exercise patience as the authorities try to ascertain the facts. He also assured Air India's dedication to safety and strength in the aftermath of this crisis.

 

Industry Impact: The accident has prompted additional safety checks of Air India's whole Dreamliner fleet, but Chandrasekaran is upbeat over the airline's future and its ongoing turnaround.

 

Source: Times Now Exclusive Interview with N. Chandrasekaran, Hindustan Times, ABC News, CNN