THE AIR INDIA TURNAROUND CHALLENGE

THE TATA GROUP IS FACING ITS TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET WITH AIR INDIA. AFTER A RECENT CRASH THAT CLAIMED 260 LIVES, TURNING IT AROUND WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX TASKS IN INDIAN BUSINESS HISTORY

- K GIRIPRAKASH

THE AIR INDIA CRASH ON JUNE 12, WHICH KILLED 260 PEOPLE, SECONDS AFTER TAKE-OFF FROM THE AHMEDABAD AIRPORT, WAS THE DEADLIEST AVIATION DISASTER IN INDIA IN OVER A DECADE. IT ALSO RUPTURED THE TATA GROUP'S CAREFULLY MANAGED NARRATIVE OF THE AIRLINE'S REVIVAL.

The AI171 Dreamliner crash, amid the much-touted five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.

AI, cannot be more nightmarish for an airline struggling to shed the baggage of decades-old state control.

To add to the injuries, Air India will discontinue its non-stop flights between Delhi and Washington, DC, due to a temporary shortage of aircraft.

A former Air India director provides the crucial context to the crash: "In my over 20 years in the aviation sector, I've never witnessed a crash of this scale.

But we need to put this into perspective," says the former official, who did not wish to be named. The official says while accidents are tragic and unfortunate, they are not unprecedented.

Almost every major airline has had an incident at some point in its history. Questions are raised about maintenance, procedures, and accountability, but airlines recover even as they learn, adapt, and move forward.