‘Each engines have been in fine condition’: Tata Sons chief Chandrasekaran says doomed AI aircraft had no ‘crimson flags’

Tata Sons and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran Wednesday (June 18) asserted that the ill-fated
Air India flight AI171
had no prior crimson flags and each of the plane’s engines have been in fine condition.

Calling the state of affairs “extraordinarily tough”, Tata Sons and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran urged speculators to attend for the black field evaluation to know the total fact.

On June 12, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner certain for London, crashed right into a medical school complicated in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff. The flight carried 242 passengers and crew, with 241 fatalities reported onboard and extra casualties on the bottom.

“It’s an especially tough state of affairs the place I’ve no phrases to precise to console any of the households of those that died,” Chandrasekaran stated, in an interview with Occasions Now, and prolonged apologies over the tragedy.

“I deeply remorse that this accident occurred in a Tata-run airline. And I really feel very sorry. All we will do is to be with the households at the moment, grieve with them and we are going to do every thing to assist them at this hour and past,” Chandrasekaran stated in a press release.

‘Watch for probe to conclude’

N Chandrasekaran was requested concerning the doable causes which will have led to the aircraft crash. Responding to the questions, he stated, “One must look forward to the probe to conclude.”

Notably, the Plane Accident Investigation Bureau is now conducting the investigation into the incident. Moreover, a high-level authorities committee can also be analyzing the main points. In keeping with the studies, the preliminary findings can take a month.

Pilots’ credentials

The Tata Sons and Air India chairman was additionally requested whether or not the pilots flying the doomed aircraft have been certified sufficient.

“Each pilots have been distinctive. Captain Sabharwal had greater than 11,500 hours of flying expertise, the primary officer Clive (Kundar) had greater than 3,400 hours of flying expertise. What I hear from colleagues is that they have been glorious pilots and nice professionals. So, we will’t leap to any conclusions. I’m advised by all of the specialists that the black field and recorders will certainly inform the story. So, we simply have to attend for that.”

Addressing varied theories across the crash, Tata Sons’ chairman stated, “There are hypothesis about human error, hypothesis about airways, hypothesis about engines, upkeep, all types.” He emphasised that the plane had no historical past of points and offered engine particulars: the correct engine was newly put in in March 2025, whereas the left engine had final been serviced in 2023 and was due for upkeep in December 2025.