A video apparently showing top officials of Air India SATS (AISATS) dancing at a DJ party in their Gurugram office has surfaced on social media. The video has caused outrage among people as it comes just days after the crash of Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad in which nearly 270 people were killed.
AISATS, a joint venture between Air India Limited (a Tata Group company) and Singapore-based SATS Limited, provides airport ground services across several Indian airports. According to news agency IANS, the party, held on June 20, reportedly saw attendance from key executives, including Bengaluru International Airport Limited’s GM Sampreet Kotian, AISATS COO Abraham Zakaria and CFO.
The video has since gone viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from the public. The celebration took place at a time when families of victims were still waiting to receive the remains of their loved ones. As of June 20, 202 of the 220 identified bodies had been handed over to families.
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
AISATS was responsible for ground handling at Delhi Airport and for preparing the load sheet for the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick leg of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed, the report stated.
AISATS issues statement
In a statement given to IANS, the company said, “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.”
But the apology has done little to calm public anger. Many believe the video reflects a shocking lack of empathy and respect for the victims and their families.
The crash occurred on June 12 when Flight AI171 reportedly suffered an engine failure shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The aircraft plunged into a densely populated area, hitting a hostel building and killing all 241 people on board, along with several on the ground. The impact and subsequent fire left most bodies badly charred, requiring forensic teams to rely on DNA testing for identification.
Among the victims were 151 Indian nationals, 34 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian and nine ground staff or airport workers. The Gujarat government, NDRF teams and forensic experts are still working around the clock to complete the identification and handover of remains.
(With inputs from IANS)