New Delhi, June 28: Air India SATS (AISATS) fired four senior officials after a video from an office party in Gurugram went viral. The video triggered massive outrage for showing the staff behaving insensitively while the nation was grieving the tragic loss of 270 lives in the Ahmedabad plane crash.
Notably, AISATS is an airport ground services company, jointly owned by Air India Limited, part of the Tata Group, and SATS Limited, which provides airport services and food solutions. Both companies hold equal ownership (50-50).
The video, which was widely criticized on social media, featured AISATS Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zachariah and other officials dancing to loud music.
According to sources, the party was held on June 20 which was attended by Sampreet Kotian, GM and head of Bengaluru International Airport Limited, AISATS Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zakaria, and the company’s Chief Financial Officer.
Later, AISATS acknowledged the viral video and made a clarification that it was out of context, and expressed regret for any emotional discomfort caused.
"AISATS is aware of a video being circulated on social media that, unfortunately, is completely out of context. Notwithstanding, we sincerely regret any emotional discomfort this may have caused," an AISATS spokesperson said in a statement.
The apology has done little to ease public outrage, with many feeling the video shows a shocking lack of empathy and respect for the victims and their families.
As of Friday morning, only 202 out of the 220 identified bodies had been returned to their families. Many others are still in morgues, with their DNA being matched as authorities work on identifying them.
It is worth noting that the crash happened on June 12 when Flight AI171 experienced a severe engine failure shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. The plane crashed into a densely populated area, hitting a medical college hostel and killing all 241 people on board, along with several others on the ground.
The crash's impact and the fire that followed left most of the bodies severely burned, so forensic teams are using DNA testing to identify them.
The victims included 151 Indians, 34 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and nine ground staff or airport workers.
