4 Executives of Air India Joint Venture AISATS Sacked After Office Party Held Days After Ahmedabad Crash

Officials stated that Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zachariah, along with two senior vice-presidents and the head of training, were dismissed from their positions.;

By :  Palakshi
Update: 2025-06-28 06:19 GMT
4 Executives of Air India Joint Venture AISATS Sacked After Office Party Held Days After Ahmedabad Crash
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Airport services provider Air India SATS Services (AISATS) has taken strong disciplinary action against four top executives after a video of an office party surfaced online, sparking widespread backlash. The incident drew criticism for its timing—appearing to have taken place just days after the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 near Ahmedabad, which claimed around 260 lives.

According to officials familiar with the matter, AISATS terminated the services of its Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zachariah, two senior vice-presidents, and the head of training. All four were reportedly directly involved in organising or participating in the celebration.

AISATS is a joint venture between Tata Group-owned Air India and Singapore-based SATS Ltd, and operates various airport services across India, including ground handling and cargo operations.

In an official statement, the company expressed remorse over the incident and extended solidarity to the families affected by the AI-171 tragedy. “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,” a company spokesperson said. “The behaviour does not align with our values, and firm disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible. We reaffirm our commitment to empathy, professionalism, and accountability.”

The video, which began circulating on social media on June 20, showed AISATS employees dancing and celebrating inside their office. Though the exact date of the gathering remains unclear, public anger quickly mounted due to the close proximity of the celebration to the deadly crash.

Social media users called the party “tone-deaf” and “insensitive,” accusing the organisers of disrespecting the victims and their grieving families. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is currently probing the crash of AI-171.

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