Did Air India CEO Copy-Paste Post-Crash Speech? Old Video Goes Viral
Air India faces backlash after CEO's crash statement is found copied from American Airlines' 2025 tragedy speech, deepening outrage after AI-171 crash killed at least 270 in Ahmedabad.
As India comes to terms with the loss of 270 lives in the Air India Flight AI-171 crash, the airline now finds itself at the center of a second storm—this time over the words of its CEO.
Campbell Wilson, Air India’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, released a video message after Thursday’s tragic crash in Ahmedabad. His tone was somber, his words seemingly heartfelt. But now, it has been revealed that large parts of Wilson’s statement were copied almost word-for-word from a speech delivered by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom after a deadly crash in the U.S. earlier this year.
That original address came in response to a mid-air collision near Washington D.C. on January 30, 2025, when a commercial jet collided with a military helicopter, killing at least 67 people.
Copied Words, Real Grief
Wilson’s statement included lines like:
“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.”
Message from Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India. pic.twitter.com/19MiwtkwAI
— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025
But these exact phrases—and much of the structure—matched the one delivered by Isom in January after American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700, crashed into a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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That crash claimed dozens of lives. Investigators believe the helicopter may have been flying above its permitted altitude, based on flight data. Bodies were recovered from the icy Potomac River, and the jet's black box recorders were later retrieved. The American Airlines plane had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and the helicopter belonged to the U.S. Army's 12th Aviation Battalion.
At the time, Robert Isom had issued a statement that struck a chord with many for its compassionate tone. But now, with those same words being used in a completely different context, Air India’s response has come under fire for lacking sincerity.
Although many users in the comment sections were slamming Air India in which one of them said, "Not ideal to see a copied message after such a tragic event. But many airlines use pre-approved crisis templates to respond quickly. Still, a bit of personalization would’ve shown more sincerity. Hopefully a lesson for future communication."
India’s Deadliest Plane Crash in Years
The crash of Air India Flight AI-171 is one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, headed to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. On board were 230 passengers and 12 crew members, including Indian, British, Portuguese, and Canadian nationals.
Tragically, the aircraft went down inside the BJ Medical College campus, destroying several buildings. Many of the victims were not on the plane, but were students, doctors, staff, and residents in the surrounding Meghaninagar area.
As of Friday, 270 bodies had been recovered and taken to Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital. Due to the condition of the remains, authorities are using DNA testing to identify the victims. A senior government official confirmed that 319 body parts—both complete and partial—have been collected and sent for forensic analysis.
Black Box Recovered, Questions Remain
Search and recovery teams have been working non-stop. The black box—containing the flight data and cockpit voice recordings—was discovered on the rooftop of a student mess building at the medical college. It could hold key clues about what went wrong in those final moments. The Emergency Locator Transmitter was also recovered the night of the crash.
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