“Safety Is Our Highest Priority,” Says Air India CEO as Flights Cut by 15%

19 June, 2025:

Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, said on Thursday that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved in the June 12 accident in Ahmedabad was in good condition and showed no signs of trouble before take-off. He added that the plane had its last check from a major maintenance point of view in June 2023 and the next one was due in December 2025. Air India also contacted members of its loyalty programme, assuring them that flight safety is the first priority of the airline. 

“At Air India, your safety is our highest priority and always has been since we took over the airline in 2022. In this context, we want to share some important facts about Flight AI171 to provide clarity during this difficult time…The flight was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a highly experienced pilot and trainer with over 10,000 hours flying widebody aircraft. First Officer Clive Kunder, had over 3,400 hours of flying experience… The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025. Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight,” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson stated in an email to members of Air India’s Maharaja Club loyalty programme.

As directed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on June 14, Wilson added, Air India has been conducting thorough safety inspections on its fleet of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft. “So far, inspections have been completed on 26 and these have been cleared for service. The remaining aircraft are currently in planned maintenance and will have these additional checks done before being released into service. Following the review, the DGCA has confirmed that our Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance processes fully meet safety standards,” he said.

However, Wilson acknowledged that the time required for these enhanced safety checks, along with various external challenges — including airspace closures over Iran and the Middle East, night-time restrictions at international airports, and routine technical issues- has led to an unusually high number of long-haul flight cancellations in recent days.

As a precautionary measure, Air India has started intensifying pre-flight safety checks for its Boeing 787 and 777 fleets. The CEO said these checks are aimed at rebuilding trust and ensuring absolute flight safety.

“Given the time these additional checks will consume and the potential impact on schedules, Air India has decided to reduce its international wide-body flights by around 15 per cent starting June 20 till at least mid-July,” Wilson said.

He added that this reduction would also provide the airline with a greater buffer of backup aircraft in case of unexpected issues. “We understand that this temporary reduction to our schedule may affect your travel plans, and we’re deeply sorry for any inconvenience,” he further stated.