Tested by tragedy, Tata Group’s legacy of doing the right thing remains untarnished
Ahmedabad 18-06-2025,The tragic crash involving Air India Flight AI171 is undoubtedly the toughest test the Tata Group has faced since it re-acquired the ailing national carrier and vowed to restore its lost lustre. But, the Group’s characteristic dignity and quiet commitment to do the right thing has continued to shine through even in these darkest of days.
The AI171 crash has been confirmed as the world’s worst aviation tragedy in a decade. At least 270 lives have been snuffed out just like that, while many many more—friends, families and loved ones of those killed—have been left picking up the pieces.
The search for answers and desire to apportion blame is understandably a natural part of trying to make sense of such a senseless loss of so many lives. This has led to some difficult questions and withering criticism, criticism the Tata Group hasn’t shied away from.
Tata Group and Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson have been front and center in addressing the tragedy head on.
“We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171,” said N. Chanrasekaran in a statement in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
“No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment.”
“It is the worst day of my professional career, I can tell you that,” he added shortly after in an interview with CNBC-TV18.
Cambell Wilson had his flight to Paris, where he was going to attend the Paris Airshow, turned back and went on air with a statement of his own shortly after.
Whether, it was the swift announcement of compensation for the victims, or the presence of top leadership at the scene of the crash, or their presence at the funeral for the captain of the doomed aircraft Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal, the Group’s handling of the tragedy mirrored their response to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that targeted the Taj Mahal hotel among other iconic landmarks.
It won plaudits from industry captains and aviation insiders.
“…this is not a test of execution but of character. In such moments, leadership is not about strategies or investor calls, but about presence, reassuring staff, comforting families, owning failures, listening with humility and acting with clarity,” RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka wrote in the Economic Times on Wednesday.
“If the past few days are an indicator, they are doing just that.” Media commentators also lauded the management’s response.
“If there are two things we have learned about the privatised Air India is that the Tatas are probably the best people to run our flagship carrier,” journalist and commentator Vir Sanghvi wrote in the Hindustan Times.
“The response of the chairman in the aftermath of the crash demonstrated the empathy, decency and sincerity that the Tatas are known for.”
Former rivals also stepped up to the airline’s defense.
“Air India has had a stellar safety record for decades,” former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor posted on social media.
“One tragedy and people lose all sense of perspective,” he added.
Make no mistake, tough questions must be asked and whichever party or parties the investigation holds responsible must be held accountable.
But, regardless of the outcome, and tested as it has been by the events of the last week, the Tata Group’s legacy of trust, transparency and accountability thus far at least remains untarnished.
