Latest news with #AI143
Skift
a day ago
- Business
- Skift
Inside Air India's First 24 Hours of Crisis Response
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson moved fast after one of the biggest aviation tragedies in history. But the next days and weeks will define the airline. Air India Liveblog Ongoing coverage of the crash of Air India flight 171 from Skift's editorial team in India, Europe, and the United States. Ongoing coverage of the crash of Air India flight 171 from Skift's editorial team in India, Europe, and the United States. Get the Latest Updates Skift's coverage of the Air India crash is offered free to all readers. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson boarded AI143 on Thursday for the 1 PM flight from Delhi to Charles de Gaulle airport to participate in the upcoming Paris Air Show. He may have been planning to share good news: Reuters had reported earlier this month that Air India was in discussions for a major order of 200 narrowbody aircraft. But just 15 minutes after his departure, at 1:39 pm, another Air India flight, AI 171, took off from Ahmedabad. It crashed within minutes. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft had 230 passengers and 12 crew on board, and only one survivor. Registered as VT-ANB, it had rotated all across the network in recent weeks, with flights to Paris, Tokyo, Melbourne, Milan, and Frankfurt. Campbell's plane was not equipped with internet connectivity, so word must have been sent to Wilson via the cockpit. The plane turned around to head back to Delhi. We don't know who made that extraordinary call: Wilson or someone else at Air India. But the plane was back on the ground in Delhi at 4 PM local time. Emergency Response The plane that crashed was in the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had clocked over 8,200 flying hours and was also a line training captain for the airline. His co-pilot had over 1,100 flight hours. Seconds after take off, a mayday call was made to the ATC, after which the aircraft crashed into the nearby medical college hostel. By the time Wilson landed in Delhi, the airline had confirmed the incident and set up a hotline. The airline's website and social media handles had turned from red to gray and black, to indicate mourning. Wilson rushed to the Emergency Command Centre at the Air India headquarters in Gurugram, where he took stock of the situation and recorded a 2.5 minute video that was released at 7:15pm local time. The message: It was not the time for speculation but rather accurate information. And the airline will cooperate in all possible ways with those affected, and the investigation. By the evening, Campbell was headed to Ahmedabad where the airline is cooperating with the investigation, and providing technical assistance. On Friday morning, he visited the site of the crash. Over 30 technical staff from Air India are currently in Ahmedabad to provide assistance to the recovery and investigation process. The investigation will be led by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Indian authority for aviation incidents. The U.S. National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the UK have deployed their teams to join the investigation. Apart from recovery, Air India is also leading the caregiving at Ahmedabad, along with the Tata Group, whose Chairman (also Air India's Chairman), N Chandrasekharan, announced immediate financial assistance of over $116,000 on behalf of the Tata Sons for the families of everyone who lost their life in the crash. After 28 hours, it was confirmed that the vital Digital Voice and Data Recorder (DVDR) had been retrieved, which would aid the investigation into the accident. The DVDR is a device that combines both Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) capabilities into a single unit, and would hold a clue as to what went down in the final moments before the flight. What's Next If there was the expectation of a celebratory few days at the Paris Air Show, everything now is about crisis management. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said in a message to staff on Thursday evening that he and Boeing Commercial Airplanes boss Stephanie Pope had canceled plans to attend the show. Engine-maker GE Aerospace, whose engines were on the Boeing 787 plane, canceled their investor day event. It's unclear if deals will still happen, though if so, they will surely be quiet. At Air India, the airline is fighting battles on multiple fronts at the same time. With no time to recover from the incidents of yesterday, the airline went to diverting or returning 16 long-haul flights owing to the overnight closure of the Iranian airspace. To add to it, the airline also faced a hoax bomb threat on AI 379 from Phuket to Delhi.
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Boeing Cancels Paris Air Show Plans After Deadly Dreamliner Crash
Boeing has canceled its plans to attend the Paris Air Show following a tragic crash involving one of its 787-8 Dreamliner jets. An Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, resulting in the deaths of nearly all 242 passengers on board. According to Reuters , this is the worst airline disaster in over ten years and the first-ever total loss of a 787. Boeing had planned for CEO Kelly Ortberg and Commercial Airplanes leader Stephanie Pope to attend the upcoming Paris Air Show, one of the aviation industry's key annual events. Instead, both leaders will stay with their teams and support the ongoing investigation. "As our industry prepares to start the Paris Air Show, Stephanie and I have both canceled plans to attend so we can be with our team, and focus on our customer and the investigation," Ortberg wrote in a message to employees Thursday evening. The plane involved was delivered to Air India in 2014 and had logged over 41,000 flight hours. It crashed into a residential and school area, sparking a massive fire. Emergency crews have recovered over 200 bodies, and 41 people are still being treated for injuries. India's aviation minister has promised a complete and fair investigation. Video clips shared online show the wreckage of the aircraft wedged into a building while smoke rose high into the air. Air India flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris, turned around to Delhi as CEO Campbell Wilson was onboard this flight. Most likely to visit the Paris Air Show starting next week. This decision is understandable due to the recent Boeing 787-8 crash. — Josh Cahill (@gotravelyourway) June 12, 2025 Boeing Pledges Support as Dreamliner Crash Probe Begins The plane, which was equipped with GE Aerospace engines, crashed after climbing to just around 625 feet in altitude. Aviation experts say that it's too early to know the exact cause. Investigators have not found any sign of a design or manufacturing flaw yet. Boeing says its technical team is ready to help authorities in India. Ortberg also reached out to Air India's chairman to extend Boeing's full support following the crash, Mint said. "Safety is foundational to our industry and is at the core of everything we do," Ortberg told staff. "We stand ready to assist investigators to understand the circumstances." The crash has pushed Boeing into crisis mode once again. Only last year, a 737 MAX incident involving a mid-flight door panel failure led to leadership changes and heightened scrutiny. Boeing shares dropped by nearly 5% on Thursday after news of the crash broke. Experts say Boeing's new leadership now faces a major challenge in winning back public trust. Paul Charles, CEO of the PC Agency, noted that "previous production issues at Boeing will be very much on people's minds" as the company navigates this latest tragedy. Originally published on
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Ill-fated Air India flight's pilot had made big promise to dad; co-pilot Vikrant Massey's cousin
The pilot in command of the ill-fated Air India flight Sumit Sabharwal had pomised his old and ailing father a few days ago that he was going to quit his job and take care of him. "Sabharwal was a resident of Mumbai, must be 55 or 56 years," , said Captain CS Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots Association. "He was single and took care of his elderly father. He has a sister too," Randhawa remembered. Sabharwal, a highly experienced pilot, was a Line Training Captain with more than 8,000 hours of flying experience. He was himself involved in safety checks of flights, Captain Randhawa said. The Association has around 6,000 members and Sabharwal was one of them. So, too was co-pilot Clive Kunder. Co-pilot was actor Vikrant Massey's cousin On Thursday evening, it emerged that Kunder, who had 1000-plus hours of flying, was 12th Fail actor Vikrant Massey's cousin. "My heart breaks for the families & loved ones of the ones who lost their lives in the unimaginably tragic air crash in Ahmedabad today," the actor posted on Instagram. "It pains even more to know that my uncle, Clifford Kunder lost his son, Clive Kunder who was the 1st officer operating on that fateful flight. May God give strength to you and your family uncle and to all deeply affected," he added. Air India Delhi CEO's flight to Paris turns back Following the Air India crash incident, the airline's flight AI 143 from Delhi to Paris carrying its CEO Campbell Wilson on board made a turn midair and returned, reveals flight tracking websites. He left for Ahmedabad after the incident. Wilson was on his way to Paris for participation in the Air Show which is set to commence next week, said a source. He later made a statement.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Flight captain was very experienced, did safety checks: Pilot association
NEW DELHI: The pilot in command of the ill-fated Air India flight Sumit Sabharwal, was a highly experienced pilot with more than 8,000 hours of flying experience and was himself involved in safety checks of flights, said Captain C S Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots Association. The Association has around 6,000 members and Sabharwal was one of them. 'We push a lot for flight safety and he was one of us.' Captain Sabharwal was a Line Training Captain and his job involved carrying out flight checks, he said. Recalling his personal life, the president said, 'Sabharwal was a resident of Mumbai, must be 55 or 56 years, he added. Recalling what he knew about him personally, Randhawa said, 'He was single and took care of his elderly father. He has a sister too. ' The co-pilot, Clive Kunder, had 1000-plus hours of flying, he added. 'Overall, the crew was very experienced,' he added. Air India Delhi CEO's flight to Paris turns back Following the Air India crash incident, the airline's flight AI 143 from Delhi to Paris carrying its CEO Campbell Wilson on board made a turn midair and returned, reveals flight tracking websites. He left for Ahmedabad after the incident. Wilson was on his way to Paris for participation in the Air Show which is set to commence next week, said a source. He later made a statement.
