Watch: Air India SATS Executives Danced At Office Party Days After Ahmedabad Crash
The event, which took place on June 20, was attended by several top company executives.
A video of senior officials of Air India SATS (AISATS) dancing at a DJ party held inside their Gurugram office has gone viral on social media. The clip has sparked public outrage, especially because it surfaced days after the tragic crash of Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of 274 people. Many are calling the celebration insensitive and poorly timed.
AISATS is a company formed as a partnership between Air India Limited (part of the Tata Group) and Singapore-based SATS Limited. It handles airport ground services at various airports across India.
According to a report by the news agency IANS, the DJ party at the Gurugram office took place on June 20 and was attended by several top executives. Among them were Sampreet Kotian, General Manager of Bengaluru International Airport Limited, as well as AISATS Chief Operating Officer (COO) Abraham Zakaria and the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
The video quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), triggering a strong backlash from the public. Many found the timing of the celebration highly insensitive, as it happened while families of the crash victims were still grieving and waiting to receive the remains of their loved ones.
Take a look at the video here:
By June 20, of the 220 bodies that had been identified, only 202 had been reportedly handed over to the families.
As per IANS, AISATS was in charge of ground handling services at Delhi Airport and was also responsible for preparing the load sheet for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick—the same flight that tragically crashed.
As the video began to circulate widely, AISATS responded with an official statement. Speaking to IANS, the company said it was aware of the video being shared online but claimed it was being taken out of context. AISATS added, '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."
However, the company's apology has done little to ease public outrage.
A user said, 'Air India, you should be ashamed of yourselves. I hope you clowns are grounded."
Another commented, 'How could they? Even if it was planned earlier. It could've been postponed."
'Pathetic & highly insensitive," an individual wrote on X.
'This is not expected," another user remarked.
Many people feel that the video shows a disturbing lack of empathy and respect towards the victims of the crash and their grieving families.
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