Air India crisis deepens ahead of final Ahmedabad crash report

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Air India crisis deepens ahead of final Ahmedabad crash report1 hour ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleNikhil InamdarHindustan Times via Getty ImagesA photo from June 2025 showing the wreckage of the plane in Ahmedabad. Indian authorities are expected to release their final report on the crash soonIn under a month from now, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to release its final report on the crash of London-bound Air India flight AI‑171 that went down seconds after take‑off from Ahmedabad in western India on 12 June 2025. As the world awaits the findings on the devastating tragedy that claimed 260 lives, a cascade of formidable challenges has deepened the crisis at Air India.

A leadership vacuum, mounting financial losses, airspace closures and a Middle Eastern fuel shock have put the carrier's ambitious turnaround into question. A spate of recent incidents have also cast a shadow on the safety and operational track record of the airline. Last month, Air India's chief executive officer, Campbell Wilson, resigned midterm as losses for the year ending March 2026 reportedly hit $2.

The Details

Air India is currently the biggest loss-making entity within the Tata Group - which took over the ailing carrier from the government in 2022 - and a point of growing consternation for the Tata board. According to local media, the board met last week and is said to have discussed several cost-cutting measures and warned staff of "tough times". The arrival of senior Singapore Airlines leadership at the group's headquarters in Mumbai city in April, meanwhile, sparked talks of the latter deepening its involvement in the beleaguered carrier.

Singapore Airlines is a 25. 1% shareholder in Air India. Air India said it would not comment on the 's detailed questionnaire, but aviation experts say Wilson's exit creates a void at a time when the airline desperately needs someone to steer it through the turbulence.

"They needed a clear vision right now. Air India had given itself a five-year plan to revamp itself after the privatisation. But one can't really say that it's been a happy ride so far.

What Experts Say

Between their plan and its implementation, there have been big and growing gaps," Jitendra Bhargava, a former executive director at Air India, told the . via Getty ImagesAir India's chief executive officer Campbell Wilson resigned midtermBhargava points to internal and external factors that have compounded the airline's troubles even as it tries to recover from the Ahmedabad crash. He says the Tatas had "underestimated the problems they inherited with the legacy carrier", and Wilson was unable to build a team quickly enough after coming in to set things in order.

Far from improving its brand image, Air India has had to continue answering for an array of embarrassing operational lapses and safety violations in the past year.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.