New Delhi [India], June 28: Air India SATS Services (AISATS) has expressed regret and taken swift disciplinary action against four senior employees who were asked to resign after a video showing them and other staff members dancing and celebrating at the office went viral, allegedly in the days following the fatal Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media. The video, which surfaced recently, shows AISATS employees partying at the workplace, though the exact date of the recording remains unclear. It is suspected the footage was shot just days after the June 12 crash.
In an official statement released on Friday, AISATS said, “At AISATS, we stand in solidarity with the families affected by the tragic loss of AI 171 and deeply regret the lapse in judgment reflected in a recent internal video. The behaviour does not align with our values, and firm disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible as we reaffirm our commitment to empathy, professionalism, and accountability.”
A spokesperson for AISATS reiterated that decisive action had been taken to reinforce the company’s commitment to maintaining high standards of conduct across its workforce.
According to sources, the four employees forced to resign held senior positions in AISATS, which provides airport gateway services for Air India.
Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) laboratory in New Delhi continues to analyse data retrieved from the black boxes of Flight AI-171 to determine the cause of the crash.
The tragic accident occurred on June 12, when Air India’s London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of 241 of the 242 people onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.