In under a month from now, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to release its final report on the crash of London-bound Air India flight AI‑171 that went down seconds after take‑off from Ahmedabad in western India on 12 June 2025.
As the world awaits the findings on the devastating tragedy that claimed 260 lives, a cascade of formidable challenges has deepened the crisis at Air India.
A leadership vacuum, mounting financial losses, airspace closures and a Middle Eastern fuel shock have put the carrier's ambitious turnaround into question. A spate of recent incidents have also cast a shadow on the safety and operational track record of the airline.
Last month, Air India's chief executive officer, Campbell Wilson, resigned midterm as losses for the year ending March 2026 reportedly hit $2.4bn.
Air India is currently the biggest loss-making entity within the Tata Group - which took over the ailing carrier from the government in 2022 - and a point of growing consternation for the Tata board.
