New Delhi: Air India SATS (AISATS) has terminated four senior officials following public outrage over a viral video of an office party in Gurugram.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism for its insensitivity, occurring as the nation grieves the loss of 270 lives in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash.
The video, which surfaced online, showed AISATS Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zachariah and other officials dancing to loud music.
The timing of the celebration sparked backlash, with many deeming it tone-deaf and disrespectful to the victims and their families.
AISATS, a provider of airport ground services, is a 50-50 joint venture between Air India Limited, under the Tata Group, and SATS Limited, a Singapore-based airport services company.
Sources revealed that the party, held on June 20, was attended by key figures, including Bengaluru International Airport Limited’s General Manager Sampreet Kotian and AISATS’ Chief Financial Officer.
The tragedy in Ahmedabad, which occurred on June 12, saw Flight AI171 crash shortly after takeoff due to an engine failure.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a densely populated area, colliding with a medical college hostel building.
All 241 passengers and crew onboard were killed, along with several people on the ground. The devastation left many bodies unrecognizable, necessitating DNA testing for identification.
At the time of the party, only 202 of the 220 identified bodies had been handed over to families, with several others still awaiting identification in morgues.
Funeral rites for many victims were yet to be completed, heightening the public’s outrage over the celebratory gathering.
AISATS has also faced scrutiny for its role in handling the ill-fated flight’s ground operations at Delhi airport and the preparation of its load sheet for the Ahmedabad-to-London Gatwick leg.
In response to the backlash, AISATS issued a statement, saying, “We are aware of a video being circulated on social media that, unfortunately, is completely out of context. Nonetheless, we sincerely regret any emotional discomfort this may have caused.”
However, the apology has done little to quell public anger, with many criticising the incident as a glaring display of insensitivity.
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The crash claimed the lives of 151 Indian nationals, 34 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and nine ground staff.
The scale of the disaster, coupled with the ongoing mourning, has made the office party incident all the more controversial.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the incident has cast a harsh spotlight on AISATS, not only for its operational role but also for the actions of its leadership in the aftermath of the tragedy.
