Air India Venture Sacks 4 Senior Staff For Office Party Days After Ahmedabad Crash

Last Updated:June 28, 2025, 07:17 IST

The party was reportedly hosted at AISATS' Gurugram office just days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad

The viral video triggered outrage on social media. (X)

Four senior executives of Air India SATS, the airport gateway services provider for the airline, were terminated from their services after a video showing employees partying in the workplace in the backdrop of the fatal Air India plane crash went viral on social media, which elicited criticism from various quarters.

However, the company did not mention the date when the party took place, but the party was reportedly hosted at AISATS’ Gurugram office just days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of 275 people.

What’s In The Video?

The now-viral video purportedly showed the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Abraham Zachariah, dancing alongside staff members as upbeat music plays in the background. The timing of the celebration has been widely condemned, with many calling it insensitive given that families of crash victims were still awaiting the return of their loved ones’ bodies.

AISATS Terminates 4 Senior Employees

In a statement on Friday, AISATS, a joint venture between Tata Group-owned Air India and Singapore’s SATS Ltd, a global provide of gateway and food solutions, said it has taken "firm disciplinary action" against the people responsible for the party.

Reportedly, four senior employees—including SVP Sampreet, SVP Baljinder, the Training Head, and COO Abraham Zacariah—have been asked to resign. The company’s top leadership has also issued a warning to other employees against engaging in such irresponsible conduct in the workplace.

“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," the company said in the statement, as reported by news agency PTI.

Ahmedabad Plane Crash

India witnessed one of its worst aviation tragedies on Thursday after a London-bound Air India plane, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, crashed into a medical college complex shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport.

241 out of 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 (AI 171) and 34 on the ground, were killed in the crash. The deceased include 120 men, 124 women, and 16 children. So far, 256 bodies have been handed over to their families, while the DNA identification process for the remaining remains ongoing.

One person survived the tragedy. The lone survivor was identified as Indian-origin British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who was returning to the UK with his brother Ajay Kumar Rakesh, 45, who was in a different row inside the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

The Gujarat health department gave the official figure of casualties of the tragedy. The announcement of the death toll was delayed as authorities were verifying the DNA matches of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. Many bodies were charred beyond recognition as the aircraft burst into flames or were damaged on impact.

The aircraft had 232 passengers and 10 crew members, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, on board.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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