New Delhi: NCP MP and former Union minister of state for civil aviation Praful Patel has raked up fresh controversy by asking why Singapore Airlines (SQ), which he has claimed plays a key role in maintaining Air India’s fleet of wide-body aircraft, has remained silent after the tragic air crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.
Patel, in a post on X, stated that Singapore Airlines is not only a significant shareholder in Air India but also plays a key role in maintaining the airline’s wide-body aircraft. He also noted that Air India’s current CEO, Campbell Wilson, was nominated by Singapore Airlines and previously served as CEO of its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot Airlines.
“In all the sorrow and din surrounding the Air India crash, there remains a surprising silence – or perhaps ignorance – about the role of a substantial shareholder, and the entity responsible for maintaining a large number, if not all, of Air India’s wide-body aircraft. Guess the name: Singapore Airlines,” Patel posted on X.
“They seem to be in hiding. Let’s not forget – they have a say in management and a codeshare agreement with Air India. Importantly, Campbell Wilson, the CEO of Air India, is a nominee of Singapore Airlines. He previously served as CEO of their low-cost subsidiary, Scoot Airlines. Why this deafening silence, SQ?” he added.
Soon after the accident, fingers were pointed at Turkish Technic, a company that has an agreement with Air India to maintain part of its wide-body fleet. Much of this had to do with a seething anger among Indians against Turkey for standing by Pakistan during and after Operation Sindoor.
The Turkish government then clarified that the company’s contract with Air India does not involve maintenance of the airline’s fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, one of which was involved in the crash in Ahmedabad. In its response, the Turkish government had said that it knows who was in charge of maintenance but would not reveal the name.
