In the wake of the devastating Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has appealed for patience and understanding as investigations into the cause of the tragedy continue. The crash, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board, as well as dozens on the ground after the plane crashed into a medical college complex shortly after takeoff.

Chandrasekaran, in his first public statement since the incident, described the situation as "extremely difficult" and expressed his deep sorrow and condolences to the families of the victims. "It is an extremely difficult situation where I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died," he said. "I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. And I feel very sorry."

Acknowledging the numerous theories and speculations surrounding the crash, Chandrasekaran urged against premature conclusions, emphasizing the importance of waiting for the official investigation to run its course. "There are speculations about human error, speculations about airlines, speculations about engines, maintenance, all kinds," Chandrasekaran stated. "There are a lot of speculations and a lot of theories. But the fact that I know so far is that this particular aircraft, this specific tail, AI-171, has a clean history."

He confirmed that the aircraft's right engine was newly installed in March 2025, while the left engine was last serviced in 2023 and was due for its next maintenance check in December 2025. "Both engine histories are clean," he asserted. Chandrasekaran also vouched for the experience and professionalism of the pilots, stating, "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...they were excellent pilots and great professionals."

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). A high-level committee appointed by the Indian government is also involved. Chandrasekaran indicated that preliminary findings could take up to a month. The investigators have already recovered both the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), commonly known as "black boxes," which are expected to provide crucial insights into the circumstances leading to the crash.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Air India has faced disruptions, including flight cancellations and delays. Chandrasekaran admitted that communication with passengers has been inadequate and that the airline is working to improve in this area. "We've got to do a better job at communication. We have put a strategic communications team in the last three days," he said. Air India has offered full refunds, hotel stays, and free rescheduling to stranded passengers.

Chandrasekaran has personally reached out to the top management at Boeing and General Electric, the manufacturer of the aircraft's engines, seeking their cooperation and assistance in the investigation. He has also clarified that none of Air India's 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners are maintained by Turkish Technic, addressing rumors that had surfaced.

The Tata Group has announced a compensation of ₹1 crore (approximately £100,000) to the families of each person who lost their life in the tragedy. Chandrasekaran also mentioned the possibility of establishing a trust to provide further support to the affected families, and that they are also looking at the option of assigning a Tata employee to each of the affected families.

As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on providing support to the victims' families and uncovering the truth behind the crash. Chandrasekaran's appeal for patience reflects the complexity of the investigation and the need to avoid speculation until all the facts are established.