Who Is Campbell Wilson And Why Is His Message On Air India Plane Crash Important?

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Last Updated:June 12, 2025, 22:43 IST

Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Campbell Wilson acknowledged the magnitude of the tragedy, saying, “This is a difficult day for all of us here in India.”

Air India's chief executive officer (CEO), Campbell Wilson. (AFP file photo)

Following the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, the spotlight turned to Campbell Wilson, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. In a video address, Campbell Wilson acknowledged the magnitude of the tragedy, saying, “This is a difficult day for all of us here in India." Stressing that Air India is “focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families, and loved ones," he pledged full cooperation with emergency responders and investigating authorities.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese and 1 Canadian citizen, crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The plane slammed into a densely populated residential area near a medical college causing a devastating fire and extensive loss of life, both onboard and on the ground.

Campbell Wilson said, “First and most importantly, I would like to express our deep sorrow about this event… We are actively working with authorities on all emergency response efforts."

Emphasising on the importance of communication and support during the crisis, he said, “We know many people are concerned for the welfare of their loved ones. We have set up a special helpline", adding that teams are working round-the-clock to assist affected families and aid the ongoing investigation.

Who Is Campbell Wilson?

Campbell Wilson is the current CEO and Managing Director of Air India, brought in by the Tata Group in 2022 after they took over the airline. Originally from New Zealand, Campbell Wilson spent much of his career at Singapore Airlines, where he held several roles, including heading its budget airline Scoot.