Air India Fires 4 For Partying Amid National Mourning For Ahmedabad Plane Crash Victims, Party Video Goes Viral

A video of an in-office party has landed four top executives of Air India SATS Services (AISATS) in serious trouble. The airport services firm has officially terminated their services after a clip showing the celebration went viral, sparking public outrage.

The backlash comes in the wake of the tragic Air India flight AI 171 crash near Ahmedabad, which claimed around 260 lives. The video, which surfaced online on June 20, shows staff members dancing and partying inside the AISATS office, just days after the deadly crash.

Check out the video in question below!

अहमदाबाद प्लेन क्रैश के एक हफ्ते बाद ही एक पार्टी ऑर्गेनाइज करने वाले 4 कर्मचारियों से Air India ने इस्तीफा मांग लिया है। ये पार्टी 20 जून को Air India के ग्राउंड हैंडलिंग वेंचर AISATS के गुरुग्राम ऑफिस में हुई थी। ये पार्टी तब हुई, जब पूरा देश गम में डूबा हुआ था। pic.twitter.com/sx1RPAEsaL

— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) June 28, 2025

Four Air India Employees Sacked For “Lapse In Judgment”

The company took quick action and confirmed that four senior officials were sacked. This includes chief operating officer Abraham Zachariah, two senior vice-presidents, and the head of training. All were reportedly directly involved in the celebration.

AISATS, a joint venture between Tata Group-owned Air India and Singapore’s SATS Ltd, handles airport services like ground operations and cargo in India.

In its official statement, the company said, “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.”

Although the company didn’t specify the date of the party, the viral video was enough to stir emotions across social media. X (formerly Twitter) users slammed the executives for their tone-deaf behaviour while families were still grieving. Many tagged it as deeply “insensitive” and “shocking.”

Calls for accountability grew louder, prompting the company to act. The decision to terminate the four senior officials was seen by many as a step in the right direction.

AI-171 Crash Still Under Probe

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is currently investigating the tragic crash of the London-bound Air India 171 flight. The flight went down just outside Ahmedabad airport, leading to one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent times.

While the country mourned, the leaked party video came as a surprise. Netizens didn’t hold back, demanding answers from the company and respect for the victims. AISATS has now publicly acknowledged the mistake and taken internal action.