Air India CEO Campbell Wilson Resigns Following $1 Billion Loss and Safety Scrutiny After Fatal Crash

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson steps down as the airline faces a $1.05 billion loss, regulatory fines, and the fallout from a 260-person fatal crash.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 5:31 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Reuters

The Departure of a Turnaround Specialist

Campbell Wilson, the former Singapore Airlines veteran appointed to lead Air India’s transition from government ownership, has officially resigned from his post. A source with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed that Wilson will serve a six-month notice period while the board searches for a successor to manage the carrier’s troubled recovery. Since taking the role in 2022, Wilson had been tasked with a massive overhaul of the airline’s engineering departments and the refurbishment of an aging fleet. However, his tenure, which was originally slated to run through 2027, has been cut short as the airline struggles to find stability under the ownership of the Tata Group.

Regulatory Crisis and Safety Lapses

The resignation follows a period of unprecedented regulatory scrutiny triggered by a crash last year that resulted in 260 fatalities. Beyond the accident, aviation authorities have reprimanded the carrier for a series of alarming safety violations, including operating an aircraft eight times without a valid airworthiness certificate. Investigators also discovered that the airline had been running flights without verifying the status of essential emergency equipment. In December, Air India internal communications admitted to a desperate need for improvements in "process discipline, communication, and compliance culture," highlighting a systemic failure to modernize the airline’s safety protocols.

Financial Bleeding and Airspace Restrictions

Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, reported a staggering combined loss of 98.08 billion rupees (approximately $1.05 billion) for the 2024-2025 financial year. These financial pressures have been exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, specifically a ban by Pakistan on Indian carriers using its airspace. This restriction has forced flights to take longer, more expensive routes, significantly impacting the airline's bottom line. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and a potential prolonged war involving Iran pose further threats to Air India’s lucrative Western flight paths, which are already heavily constrained by regional instability.