Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Social media users allege Air India CEO’s post-crash speech was plagiarised

As the nation mourns the devastating loss of 270 lives in the Air India Flight AI-171 crash, the airline is now facing criticism on another front—this time concerning the remarks made by its CEO.

Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, released a video statement following the tragic crash in Ahmedabad last Thursday. His delivery was solemn, and the message appeared sincere. However, social media users have alleged that the speech was largely copied from American Airline CEO’s statement earlier this year. As per social media reports, the Air India CEO’s speech was nearly identical to one given by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom earlier this year, following a fatal crash in the United States.



Isom had spoken in response to a January 30, 2025 mid-air collision near Washington D.C., where a commercial jet collided with a military helicopter, resulting in the deaths of at least 67 people.

Alleged Copying of Statement
Some social media users have alleged that Wilson’s statement included lines such as:
“This is a difficult day for all of us... Our efforts are now focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families, and loved ones.”

These exact phrases—and the broader structure—mirror those used by Isom in his address after the American Airlines Flight 5342 accident, in which a Bombardier CRJ700 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

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While Isom’s message was widely praised at the time for its emotional sincerity, the repetition of those words in a different context has led to public backlash against Air India, with critics accusing the airline of insincerity and lack of originality in its crisis communication. One online comment read: “Not ideal to see a copied message after such a tragic event.”

India’s Worst Aviation Tragedy in Years
The crash of Air India Flight AI-171 marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board, including nationals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada.

The aircraft tragically came down inside the BJ Medical College campus, causing further devastation. Many of those who lost their lives were not passengers, but rather students, medical staff, and local residents in the Meghaninagar area surrounding the crash site.

Air India and its parent company, Tata Group, will jointly provide over ₹1.25 crore in financial assistance to the families of those killed in the Ahmedabad air disaster. This includes ₹1 crore from Tata Sons and an interim ₹25 lakh from the airline itself.

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