Following the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI171 en route to London, which claimed the lives of 241 out of 242 people on board, the airline's management has reportedly instructed its staff not to engage with the media or make any public comments.
According to internal communications reviewed by TNM, employees were reminded of the airline’s cybersecurity protocols and were told not to capture videos or photos of official documents or internal messages.
While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, the management is said to have urged employees to continue with their usual duties. They were also advised to avoid saying anything that could potentially lead to misinformation, as per the message shared in an internal group, The News Minute reported.
In the aftermath of the Air India Flight AI171 crash, the airline’s internal communication and cybersecurity teams reportedly sent out messages to all employees. According to sources, an initial communication confirmed the accident involving the Ahmedabad-to-London Gatwick flight, which had 242 passengers and crew on board.
The airline is said to have shared preliminary details, including the nationalities of those on board—169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Alongside this, the airline reportedly announced the activation of a dedicated passenger helpline and emphasized its cooperation with authorities.
Employees were also urged not to speak to the media, with management requesting that staff refrain from making any statements that could contribute to the spread of misinformation. The messages emphasized that all public communication would be managed through official spokespersons and encouraged employees to carry on with their duties as usual.
In a separate communication following the crash of Air India Flight AI171, the airline’s cybersecurity team reportedly reminded staff of their responsibilities under internal policy. Employees were cautioned against recording or sharing any images or videos of official information—whether from screens, documents, emails, meetings, or workplace settings.
The team is said to have emphasized that such actions are strictly prohibited under Air India’s cybersecurity guidelines and that any sharing of official content requires prior authorization to ensure confidentiality and compliance.
The tragic incident occurred on June 12, 2025, when Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, reportedly went down about 30 seconds after takeoff. The crash site was in a residential area near BJ Medical College in the Meghaninagar neighbourhood. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 241 people on board and claimed the lives of at least 28 individuals on the ground.