Air India issues statement after top officials seen partying
Air India has issued a statement after a video showing the top officials of one of the airline's joint ventures partying went viral just days after the deadly plane crash that killed 270. Air India SATS (AISATS), which is owned by Air India Ltd and Singapore-based SATS Ltd, is a provider of airport ground handling and cargo handling services in India.
The joint venture was responsible for preparing the load sheet for the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick leg of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that went down on June 12.
Footage reportedly shows AISATS' Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zachariah dancing with other members of staff while music blares in the background, which was said to be taken during a party at the firm's Gurugam office on June 20. The video, which has gone viral on social media, has sparked outrage as it came at a time when families of victims were waiting to receive the remains of their loved ones. 'How could they? Even if it was planned earlier. It could [have] been postponed', on X account wrote.
Another said: 'Pathetic and highly insensitive', while a third said: 'You should be ashamed of yourselves. I hope you clowns are grounded.' In a statement to Indian news agency IANS, the company said: 'AISATS is aware of a video being circulated on social media that unfortunately is completely out of context. 'Notwithstanding, we sincerely regret any emotional discomfort this may have caused.' MailOnline has reached out to AISATS for comment.
Hundreds of relatives of crash victims had to provide their DNA samples to identify their loved ones, as most of the bodies were charred or mutilated, making them unrecognisable. The causes of the crash are still being investigated. Air India said that there were 169 passengers on board, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, as well as 12 crew members.
At least 38 people were also killed on the ground as the doomed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down in a residential area moments after takeoff. British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40 from Leicester, was named as the sole survivor of the crash, and was discharged from hospital to be a pallbearer at the funeral of his brother, who was also on the flight.
Astonishing footage taken near the crash site showed Mr Ramesh with visible injuries hobbling away from the jet before he was rushed to hospital for treatment. He told doctors that immediately after the plane took off, it began descending and suddenly split in two, ejecting him before there was a loud explosion.
Speaking to Indian broadcaster Doordarshan, Mr Ramesh said: 'I don't know how I came out of it alive. 'For a while, I thought I was about to die. But when I opened my eyes, I saw I was alive. And I opened my seatbelt and got out of there,' adding how two cabin crew members 'died before my eyes.'
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