Nation in Grief, But Party at Air India SATS: DJ Event Raises Eyebrows After Ahmedabad Plane Crash That Killed 270
Nation in Grief, But Party at Air India SATS: DJ Event Raises Eyebrows After Ahmedabad Plane Crash That Killed 270
Insensitive Celebration Sparks Public Backlash Amid Ongoing DNA Identification and Funeral Proceedings
As India grapples with the tragic loss of nearly 270 lives in one of its deadliest aviation disasters, a video showing top officials of Air India SATS (AISATS) dancing at a DJ party in Gurugram has triggered widespread outrage. The incident occurred just days after the crash of Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers and several others on the ground.
It has only been a few days since the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash.
— Squint Neon (@TheSquind) June 22, 2025
Many families have not yet been able to see their loved ones for the last time; several bodies have still not been handed over.
Grief hangs heavy in households, funeral pyres are yet to cool. And at such a… pic.twitter.com/rrlekBNAeD
The viral video, shot on June 20, features AISATS Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zakaria, Chief Financial Officer, and Bengaluru International Airport Limited GM Sampreet Kotian dancing at an internal office event. The timing of the celebration has drawn sharp criticism from victims’ families and aviation insiders, who called it “insensitive” and “tone-deaf.”
AISATS, a joint venture between Tata Group-owned Air India Limited and Singapore-based SATS Ltd, is responsible for ground handling operations, including load sheet management for the ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.
As of Friday, only 202 out of 220 identified bodies had been handed over to families, with forensic teams continuing DNA matching for several charred remains. The DJ party has deeply hurt many who are still awaiting the return of their loved ones.
Public Reaction and Company Response
The backlash intensified after AISATS issued a brief statement:
“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.”
However, the apology has failed to pacify grieving families and the public. Critics say the event reflects a blatant disregard for the scale of human tragedy and questions are now being raised not just about AISATS’ role in ground operations but also its corporate accountability.
'DJ party amid tragedy': Air India SATS execs dance days after deadly plane crash
— IANS (@ians_india) June 22, 2025
• AISATS is a company that provides airport ground services. It is a joint venture, owned equally (50-50) by two companies — Air India Limited, which is part of the Tata Group, and SATS Limited,… pic.twitter.com/E7OMbR8wMu
Crash Details
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad due to catastrophic engine failure, slamming into a densely populated hostel complex. The resulting fire and impact caused extensive damage and claimed all lives on board — including 151 Indian nationals, 34 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian, and 9 airport or ground personnel.
The Gujarat government, NDRF, and forensic teams continue their efforts to identify remaining victims. Experts warn the full identification process may take weeks due to the severity of burns and tissue damage.
