A viral video showing senior officials from Air India's airport gateway services provider AISATS dancing at an office party just days after the deadly crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad is receiving widespread criticism.
Four senior employees of AISATS have been asked to resign over the footage.
Air India SATS (AISATS), which is owned by Air India Ltd and Singapore-based SATS Ltd, is a provider of airport ground handling and cargo handling services in India.
The viral video reportedly shows AISATS' Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zachariah dancing with other members of staff while music blares in the background, which was said to be taken during a party at the firm's Gurugram office. The footage was seen by many on social media as a time not appropriate for celebrations.
The party was reportedly organised just days after the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that killed 259 people.
"At AISATS, we stand in solidarity with families affected by the tragic loss of AI 171 and deeply regret the lapse in judgment reflected in a recent internal video," an AISATS spokesperson said, NDTV reported.
"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 spokesperson added.
The viral video triggered outrage on social media, as the celebration occurred while many families were still waiting to receive the bodies of crash victims. The footage drew strong criticism from users on X.
One user wrote: “Problem with Indian corporates is that they don’t have heart, only thing matter is money. If someone dies let’s give some money to victim’s family, no accountability, no investigation & no arrest. They just create a public image through charity, so no question asked.”
Another user replied: “Would’ve been more advisable for you to defer and not host parties at such times @airindia.”
The devastating Air India crash occurred on June 12, when a London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged into an accommodation for medical students at Ahmedabad’s BJ Medical College just moments after take-off. All, except one passenger onboard, were killed in the crash.
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