Air India Crash At Ahmedabad : The legacy of ‘Maharaja’ At Stake

The most unfortunate Air India’s horrifying crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday claimed the lives of more than 270 people, comes at a time when the flag carrier was trying to turn its fortunes around. The crash left everyone numb to an extent that words fell short in expressing the anguish and sadness for the lives lost.

In 2022, when Tata Sons acquired the carrier, ending decades of government control. After gaining control, the Tata group set about revitalising the ailing airline. This included placing an order for 470 new aircraft, the carrier’s largest ever, and extending its international reach. That effort followed a troubled past marked by both financial losses and safety failures under government ownership.

People had high hopes when Tata took over Air India. Back when Tata owned the airline before it was taken over by the government, it had a great reputation. But now, problems with quality and service have let people down.

The ₹180 billion deal (then about $2.4 billion) was in some respects a return home, as Air India had its roots in the Tata family’s founding of Tata Airlines in 1932. It also formed part of a broader rescue attempt for a carrier crippled by debts and losses. Once a massive drain on taxpayers, Air India was placed on a multi-step transformation path after the Tata group acquired it three years back, aiming to become a “world class global airline with an Indian heart”. Under private control, the airline expanded its fleet and network, overhauled the customer experience, and worked to improve operational reliability. In the wake of its merger with Vistara last year, the full-service carrier also began repainting and retrofitting its aircraft.

By the time the take-over took place, Air India was, in the words of CEO Campbell Wilson to Reuters in 2024, “just in absolute shambles”. Many aircraft had not received a product refresh since their delivery in 2010–11.

Once on the world stage, Air India’s Maharaja mascot, lavishly decorated planes and high service standards under the stewardship of JRD Tata—India’s first commercial pilot—had inspired pride. That changed in the mid 2000s as financial woes deepened. Widebody aircraft were left with sagging business class seats and some new Boeing 787 Dreamliners were grounded due to spare parts unavailability.

Air India aggressively increased its international flight network, even as passengers regularly air grievances on social media about dirty seats, broken armrests, non functional entertainment systems and unclean cabins. In May, Reuters cited UK Civil Aviation Authority data, via the PA news agency, saying Air India was the worst airline in Britain for flight delays, with departures averaging nearly 46 minutes late in 2024.

In the past two to three years, Air India has faced a string of operational challenges—from pilot protests and persistent delays to complaints about customer discomfort and safety.

In wake of the recent tragedy, an international inquiry has been launched. Boeing said it was “working to gather more information.” Air India also stated it would seek answers and pledged support for those affected.

Wilson said, “This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones.”

N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, conveyed deep sorrow. “No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment,” he said, adding that victims’ families would receive ₹10 million (almost $117,000) each and that medical bills for the injured would be covered.

The Boeing 787 crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. Miraculously, lone passenger survived among the 242 passengers on-board. Unfortunately the scale of tragedy is such that no amount of efforts will help heal the wounds of those who lost their loved ones.

Certainly, the horrific attack puts the authorities competencies in question, requiring further tightening the noose so as to mitigate any future mishap.