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Air India's CEO speech draws comparisons with American Airlines' post-crash address

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Air India's CEO speech draws comparisons with American Airlines' post-crash address
Policy
Webp wilson
Campbell Wilson CEO of Air India | Official Website

A week ago, on June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India. The flight was en route to London Gatwick and operated by a Boeing 787-8. Following the incident, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, addressed the crash in an online video.

Wilson's initial address provided key facts about the flight, including the number of people onboard and their nationalities. However, his remarks have drawn criticism for being similar to those made by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom after a separate crash earlier this year.

At the start of his address, Wilson stated his intention "to brief you on a serious incident that involved an Air India aircraft a short while ago." He expressed Air India's "deep sorrow about this event," adding that it was "a difficult day for all of us" and emphasized that the airline was "focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families, and loved ones."

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Wilson confirmed that the jet carried 230 passengers and 12 crew members: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Injured passengers were treated in hospital; however, only one survived. He concluded by stating:

"We understand that people are eager for information. Please know that we will continue to share accurate and timely information as soon as we can, but anything we report must be accurate and not speculative. We owe that to everyone involved. For now, our teams are working around the clock to support passengers, crew, and their families as well as investigators however we can."

The speech has been compared to one made by Robert Isom following a crash involving American Airlines Flight 5342 in January. The Economic Times reported accusations of plagiarism against Wilson due to similarities between the speeches. NDTV highlighted phrases used in both addresses such as "I want to brief you on a serious accident." Speculation exists regarding whether AI or consultants influenced both speeches.

Since the crash of Air India Flight 171—the first hull-loss incident involving a Boeing 787—more details have emerged. A viral video filmed by a passenger showed various malfunctions before takeoff on an earlier flight. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg canceled his trip to the Paris Air Show following these developments.

India and Japan ordered inspections of Boeing 787s flown by their airlines; however, the FAA deemed it too early for grounding orders. Inspections at Air India revealed no major concerns with its fleet suggesting an isolated incident. Investigators await further analysis from recovered flight data recorders.

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