Air India CEO Campbell Wilson steps down, claims report:Resignation comes after Ahmedabad plane crash report

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has resigned, according to sources cited by ANI on Tuesday. Several media reports said that the airline has also begun the search for a new CEO. According to sources, Wilson may step down from his position in September. His resignation was accepted during the company’s board meeting held last week. He was appointed CEO and Managing Director of Air India in 2022. His contract was for five years, until July 2027. Reports suggest that the airline will appoint a new CEO after the final investigation report into the Ahmedabad plane crash is released. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had issued a preliminary report on July 12, 2025. The final report is expected in June 2026. Air India begins CEO search from January Air India has not made any official comment on Campbell Wilson’s resignation. However, sources say the airline is holding high-level discussions with potential candidates for the CEO position. An important meeting regarding this is expected next week. According to reports, the company had already started searching for a new CEO in January, when Wilson indicated he may step down after the end of his contract. Wilson has over 30 years of experience in the aviation sector and has worked with both full-service and low-cost airlines. Wilson started as a management trainee in 1996 Before joining Air India, Wilson was the CEO of Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. He completed his Master of Commerce (First Class Honours) in Business Administration from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He began his career in 1996 as a management trainee with Singapore Airlines in New Zealand. He later worked for SIA in Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan. Returning to Singapore, he became the founding CEO of Scoot in 2011 and served until 2016. After that, he worked as Senior Vice President (Sales and Marketing) at Singapore Airlines, before returning as Scoot CEO in April 2020. Two years later, he joined Air India. Air India may face ₹20,000 crore loss in 2026 India’s second-largest airline, Air India, is currently facing several challenges. Reports suggest that the airline could incur losses of around ₹20,000 crore in the financial year 2026. A major reason for this is the ongoing tensions in West Asia. Due to rising tensions in the region, airspace restrictions have forced airlines to reroute flights and add extra fuel stops. This has especially impacted long-haul international routes, increasing operational costs. Additionally, delays in aircraft deliveries have affected the airline’s expansion plans, putting further pressure on operations. Air India is also still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s plane crash. Flight AI 171, which was travelling from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people. The incident continues to impact the airline’s public image and operational environment. Despite these challenges, the company is continuing its restructuring and expansion plans. IndiGo CEO had resigned about a month ago Before Air India, IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers had also resigned on March 10. The airline suddenly announced his departure and appointed William Walsh as the new CEO on March 30. In December last year, the airline faced one of the worst operational crises in its history. Hundreds of flight cancellations and delays caused losses of around ₹2,000 crore. Since then, pressure had been mounting on Elbers to step down.