"We are devastated": Air India CEO vows transparency, support after Ahmedabad crash kills 265

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Friday confirmed that 265 people have died in the Ahmedabad air crash, including 241 of the 242 people on board Flight AI171 and 10 individuals on the ground. The aircraft, en route to London Gatwick, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel shortly after takeoff on Thursday.

In a video statement from Ahmedabad, Wilson called the incident “a devastating loss” and said the airline is committed to full transparency during the ongoing investigation. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day to brief him on the situation.

“This morning, I visited the crash site and was deeply moved by the scenes,” Wilson said. “We are fully cooperating with authorities and will support the investigation for as long as it takes.”

Wilson added that Air India has deployed nearly 100 caregivers and 40 engineering staff to Ahmedabad to assist with relief operations. The airline has set up Friends and Relatives Assistance Centres in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and London to support victims’ families, offering travel aid, grief counselling, and documentation help.

The Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced an ex gratia payment of ₹1 crore to the families of each deceased passenger. Additional compensation may be processed through aviation and personal insurance claims.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the cause of the crash. The incident is expected to lead to one of India’s costliest aviation insurance claims to date, given the scale of loss both on board and on the ground.

“We will continue to do everything we can to care for those affected and to honour the trust placed in Air India,” Wilson said.