Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Air India CEO warns staff after terminating 1,000 employees
The company that owns Air India is working hard to make sure all its workers follow the rules.
The boss, Campbell Wilson, talked to the workers and told them to always do the right thing, even when nobody is watching.
He said about 1,000 workers have lost their jobs since the new owners took over.
Some workers were fired for using company travel benefits in the wrong way.
Mr. Wilson said it will be harder and harder for people to get away with breaking the rules.
His message came after a pilot on a plane flying from Phuket to Delhi was found to have drugs in his body.
That plane suddenly dropped about 300 feet in the air, and some passengers and crew members got hurt.
Now Air India will test all pilots to make sure they are not using such substances.
Mr. Wilson is leaving his job as the boss next month.
The company wants everyone to be responsible and follow the same regulations.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson told staff to 'do the right thing, even when no one is watching' and to report wrongdoing.
Nearly 1,000 employees have been terminated since the Tata Group took control of the airline, including for misuse of employee travel privileges and other misconduct.
Wilson said the airline is progressively rolling out systems and controls to prevent, detect, and act against rule-breaking.
His comments came after the pilot of Phuket–Delhi flight AI2379 tested positive for a psychoactive substance following an April incident in which the Airbus A320 lost about 300 feet of altitude.
Wilson, who announced his resignation earlier this year, is expected to step down as CEO next month.
Air India and Air India Express announced plans to conduct psychoactive substance screening for all pilots.
- Who
- Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, the airline's employees, and Tata Group, which took control of the carrier in January 2022.
- What
- Wilson warned staff against misconduct and revealed that nearly 1,000 employees have been terminated since the Tata takeover for violations such as misuse of travel privileges; he also referenced tightened internal controls and upcoming pilot substance screening.
- When
- The terminations and warnings came after the Tata Group acquisition in January 2022; the related flight incident occurred on August 4, and Wilson is expected to step down next month.
- Where
- Air India's operations in India, including the Phuket–Delhi route on which flight AI2379 was flying.
- Why
- To enforce accountability, deter deliberate rule-breaking, and address safety concerns following a flight incident involving a pilot who tested positive for a psychoactive substance.
- Airline
- Air India (with subsidiary Air India Express)
- CEO
- Campbell Wilson
- Employees terminated
- Nearly 1,000 since Tata Group takeover (January 2022)
- Reasons for termination
- Misuse of employee travel privileges and other misconduct
- Related incident
- Phuket–Delhi flight AI2379, Airbus A320, lost ~300 feet of altitude on August 4
- Investigation agency
- Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)
- New safety measure
- Psychoactive substance screening for all pilots at Air India and Air India Express
- Leadership transition
- Wilson expected to step down as CEO and MD next month