Following widespread criticism in the wake of the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed over 260 lives, aviation expert and former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor has stepped forward to defend both the airline and the aircraft involved.
Addressing growing calls for a ban on Air India, Kapoor took to social media platform X to urge the public not to lose sight of context. “Tens, even hundreds of thousands are killed annually in road and rail accidents in India — over 2,000 each year on Mumbai’s suburban rail network alone — yet there is little outcry,” he pointed out. “Air India has upheld an excellent safety record for decades. One tragedy shouldn't erase that perspective.”
Kapoor also emphasized the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s strong global safety history. The model involved in the crash had reportedly completed more than five million flights worldwide without a single fatality prior to the AI-171 incident.
“Perhaps that’s why the shock is so great — because the Boeing 787 had never seen such a tragedy before,” Kapoor noted. “Air turnbacks and minor technical issues happen across all aircraft types daily. Even so, flying remains the safest mode of transportation.”
As investigations continue into the causes of the AI-171 crash, Kapoor’s remarks serve as a reminder of aviation’s long-standing commitment to safety and the importance of balanced public discourse during such incidents.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)