It was expected to be a bustling summer for Indian aviation, with travelers thronging airports and skies crisscrossed with holiday traffic. Instead, the sector finds itself in mourning. A deadly escalation with Pakistan that shut down crucial airspace was soon followed by the crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad—an accident that killed over 260 people and sent a chill across the industry.
The grief has been particularly palpable within Air India. In an unusually candid email sent to employees on Friday, CEO Campbell Wilson—who also serves as the airline’s accountable manager—acknowledged the wave of uncertainty and fear that has gripped the company.
Wilson, formerly of Singapore Airlines group, typically uses these internal messages to chart progress on the airline’s $3 billion turnaround. But this time, the tone was markedly different. Structured in an FAQ format, the note, reviewed by Air Insight, tried to answer what many in the company have been asking but struggling to process.
“What happened?”
“There are many theories,” Wilson wrote, “but as the accident is now under official investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), it is not appropriate for us to comment or speculate. We are providing all requested information and are cooperating completely. It is vital that the facts—whatever they may be—are known so that we and the industry at large can learn from them.”
When will the AAIB report be ready?
“The final report can take many months,” he explained, “though the AAIB may choose to issue interim updates. If something emerges that requires urgent change, we trust that it will be communicated swiftly. For our part, we will be transparent with what is shared with us.”
Are our aircraft safe?
“Yes,” Wilson affirmed. “We have completed precautionary inspections of our Boeing 787 fleet, as requested by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation). The regulator has publicly confirmed these aircraft meet required standards. Additionally, we have voluntarily implemented more rigorous pre-flight checks for now. Where there is any doubt, we will not release an aircraft—of any type—for service.”
But Wilson also acknowledged the operational cost of caution. After announcing a 15% cut to its international widebody operations, Air India revealed on Sunday it would temporarily cancel 118 weekly flights operated by narrow-body jets across 19 routes, and suspend services on three routes altogether.
Why the cuts?
“These enhanced inspections reduce aircraft availability,” Wilson explained. “Add to that the extended flying times from airspace closures over Pakistan and the Middle East, and we were left with little choice but to scale back. We will progressively restore flying when the time is right.”
Will this affect long-term plans?
“This has been a tragic event,” Wilson acknowledged, “and we will learn from it so we emerge stronger. But our ambitions—on safety, quality, scale, reach, and professionalism—remain unchanged, if not higher. We continue to have full support from our shareholders,” he added, referring to Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.
Still, support does not shield from scrutiny. India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, has launched special audits across all airlines—including Air India—to identify systemic safety gaps before they line up in the proverbial Swiss cheese model of failure.
Passenger volumes have dropped noticeably. Despite it being the traditional high season, daily numbers have slipped well below the usual half a million, reflecting a broader anxiety: about safety, about regional instability, and about flying itself. With Iranian airspace now a fraught alternative after Pakistan’s closure, airlines are left with longer detours and uncertain timelines.
For Air India—and Indian aviation—the path ahead is not just about recovery. It’s about rebuilding confidence.
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