Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran has publicly addressed the plagiarism allegations against the airline’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, following his condolence message after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives.
At a recent event hosted by Times Now, Chandrasekaran commented, “Our focus is on addressing the needs of all those affected. But if you look into the spirit of what he said, we should take at this moment the matter that he has conveyed.” He acknowledged the plagiarism claims, noting, “I have heard about this, I have not analyzed it word by word, but this is something we will look into.”
Campbell Wilson faced harsh criticism on social media where users noticed significant similarities between his statement and remarks made by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom earlier this year. Users pointed out that both statements contained almost identical phrases such as “this is a difficult day for all of us,” “emergency response efforts,” and “we are actively working with authorities.”
While some labeled the similarities as plagiarism, many defended Wilson, suggesting that the language could represent standard industry protocols for crisis communication, indicating it might be a templated or scripted response rather than intentional copying.
In the wake of the tragic crash on June 12, 2025, Wilson had expressed profound sorrow in a video message. He emphasized Air India’s commitment to providing “full and unstinting assistance” to the affected families and cooperating fully with ongoing investigations. His efforts included a personal visit to the crash site and establishing assistance centers in major cities, to support those impacted by the tragedy. Wilson also assured that the aircraft, a Boeing 787-8, was well-maintained and that the flight crew was highly experienced.
Despite the backlash, Air India has not released an official statement addressing the plagiarism allegations. Insights from industry experts have provided a balanced view, with some suggesting that the comparison provides a valuable perspective while remaining non-committal in their judgments.
This situation highlights the challenges leaders face in crisis communication, where the emotional weight of tragedy must be managed alongside the scrutiny of their public statements. It also emphasizes the need for sensitivity and thoughtfulness in language used during such critical times.