Air India staff asked to resign after viral party video amid Ahmadabad crash tragedy

Four senior executives of Air India SATS (AISATS), a joint venture between Air India Ltd and Singapore-based SATS Ltd, have been asked to resign after a video of a workplace party went viral on social media.

The incident occurred just days after the deadly crash of Air India Flight AI171 that claimed over 270 lives.

The video, reportedly filmed on June 20 at AISATS’ Gurugram office, shows Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zachariah dancing with other staff members as music blares in the background.

The footage sparked widespread public outrage as it surfaced while families of the crash victims were still grieving and waiting to receive the remains of their loved ones.

Company's role in the tragic flight

AISATS was responsible for preparing the load sheet for the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick leg of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed on June 12.

The aircraft suffered a catastrophic engine failure shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad and plunged into a residential area, killing 241 passengers and crew along with several people on the ground. Only one passenger, an Indian-origin British national, survived.

AISATS calls video ‘Out of Context’

In a statement to Indian news agency IANS, an AISATS spokesperson said the video was "completely out of context" and expressed deep regret over the lapse in judgment.

“At AISATS, we stand in solidarity with the families affected by the tragic loss of AI171 and deeply regret the lapse in judgment reflected in a recent internal video,” the spokesperson said.

The company added that the behaviour "does not align with our values," and firm disciplinary action had been taken. Apart from the four resignations, other employees involved have also been warned. AISATS reaffirmed its commitment to empathy, professionalism, and accountability.

Public outrage over insensitivity

The apology, however, has done little to quell the public backlash. Many on social media condemned the timing of the celebration.

One user wrote: "How could they? Even if it was planned earlier, it could have been postponed."

Another said: "Pathetic and highly insensitive." A third added: "You should be ashamed of yourselves. I hope you clowns are grounded."

Ongoing recovery efforts

The Air India Dreamliner, operating Flight AI171, crashed just seconds after takeoff on June 12, hitting the hostel of BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar, a densely populated area near the airport. The crash and ensuing fire left most bodies charred, requiring DNA testing for identification.

Among the victims were:

• 151 Indian nationals

• 34 British citizens

• 7 Portuguese nationals

• 1 Canadian

• 9 airport ground staff

Efforts led by the Gujarat government, NDRF teams, and forensic experts are still ongoing to identify victims and hand over remains to families.