Tata Sons Reinforces Oversight at Air India: Former Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola Appointed Senior Advisor Amid AI 171 Fallout and Leadership Reset
In a decisive strategic move, Tata Sons has inducted former Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola (Retd IAS: 1985: Karnataka cadre) as Senior Advisor to Air India, signaling a strong governance intervention at the national carrier. The appointment comes alongside a significant internal restructuring, including the reassignment of the airline’s Global Head of Corporate Communications, underscoring a sharpened focus on regulatory compliance, crisis response, and institutional credibility.
The development marks a critical phase for Air India as it grapples with operational, reputational, and regulatory challenges that have intensified in the post-privatization era.
Air India Confronts One of Its Most Difficult Phases Since Privatization
Since its acquisition by Tata Sons in 2022, Air India has been undergoing an ambitious transformation. However, the airline is currently navigating what industry observers describe as its most turbulent period in recent history.
The crisis environment has been shaped by multiple high-impact developments:
The AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad in June 2025, which tragically resulted in the loss of 260 lives, making it one of the most devastating aviation incidents in recent years.
Allegations of plagiarism involving CEO Campbell Wilson, whose condolence message following the crash was widely criticized for closely resembling an earlier statement issued by American Airlines.
Regulatory action by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which imposed a penalty of ₹1 crore on the airline for operating an Airbus A320 aircraft on eight occasions without a valid airworthiness review certificate. The regulator noted “erosion of public trust” and indicated accountability at senior leadership levels.
Together, these developments have amplified scrutiny of the airline’s operational controls, communication protocols, and executive oversight mechanisms.
Strategic Induction of Pradeep Singh Kharola: A Bridge Between Government and Corporate Aviation
The appointment of Pradeep Singh Kharola is widely viewed as a calculated move to reinforce regulatory engagement and institutional stability.
Kharola is no stranger to Air India. During the airline’s tenure under government ownership, he served as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). Later, as Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, he played a key role in steering the privatization process that culminated in Tata Sons reclaiming control of the carrier.
His re-entry into Air India’s ecosystem as Senior Advisor positions him uniquely at the intersection of policy, regulation, and airline operations. Industry sources suggest that he is expected to lead high-level engagement with government stakeholders and aviation regulators, including the DGCA, as the airline works to rebuild compliance credibility and restore public confidence.
Given his familiarity with both bureaucratic frameworks and commercial aviation strategy, his appointment is seen as an effort to strengthen institutional dialogue at a sensitive juncture.
Communications Overhaul Signals Governance Reset
Parallel to Kharola’s induction, Tata Sons has initiated a leadership reshuffle within Air India’s communications division.
The airline’s Global Head of Corporate Communications has been reassigned in what insiders describe as a direct response to public criticism over the handling of post-crash messaging. The condolence communication attributed to CEO Campbell Wilson was widely perceived as lacking originality and emotional sensitivity, intensifying reputational damage during an already fragile moment.
Veteran executive Partha Ghosh, who had been leading the communications function, has been replaced as part of this broader restructuring exercise. Sources indicate that the earlier communication approach was regarded internally as deficient in both tone and strategic depth, prompting decisive intervention from Bombay House, the headquarters of Tata Sons.
The reshuffle highlights an institutional recognition that crisis communication, especially in aviation disasters, plays a central role in preserving stakeholder trust and brand equity.
Who Is Pradeep Singh Kharola? A Career of Institutional Turnarounds
A 1985-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, Pradeep Singh Kharola currently serves as Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), a position he assumed in June 2024 to stabilize and reform India’s national examination system after irregularities in examinations such as NEET-UG and UGC-NET.
Born on September 15, 1961, in Uttarakhand, Kharola has an extensive academic and administrative record. He holds:
A Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Indore University
A Master of Technology in Industrial Engineering from IIT Delhi, where he graduated as a university topper
A Master’s degree in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Philippines
Notable Career Assignments
Over nearly four decades in public service, Kharola has been associated with several major institutional roles, including:
Director General, National Testing Agency (NTA)
Chairman and Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)
Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation
Chairman and Managing Director, Air India
Managing Director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)
Managing Director, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)
Senior administrative positions in the Government of Karnataka
He is widely recognized for restructuring loss-making public sector enterprises and implementing governance reforms across transportation and infrastructure sectors.
Awards and Recognition
Kharola has received multiple national honors for administrative excellence, including:
Prime Minister’s Outstanding Public Administration Award (2013)
National Award for e-Governance (2012) for the “E-Sugam” initiative
These accolades reflect his track record in digital governance innovation and systemic transformation.
Anticipating the AAIB Report and Possible Regulatory Implications
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to release its final report on the AI 171 crash in the coming period. Industry observers caution that the findings could potentially expose the airline to additional regulatory, operational, or legal consequences, depending on the conclusions drawn.
Against this backdrop, Kharola’s presence is being interpreted as a strategic reinforcement by Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran. Reports indicate that the conglomerate has also initiated preliminary discussions regarding succession planning for CEO Campbell Wilson ahead of the scheduled end of his term in 2027.
Tata Sons’ Crisis Management Strategy: Tightened Oversight and Institutional Stabilization
The induction of a seasoned administrator with deep aviation and regulatory experience, combined with a communications reset, signals a calibrated crisis management approach by Tata Sons.
The strategy appears to rest on three pillars:
Strengthening regulatory engagement and compliance oversight
Ensuring leadership continuity while reviewing long-term executive planning
Enhancing communication protocols to restore stakeholder confidence
As Air India navigates the aftermath of operational setbacks and reputational strain, the latest leadership moves reflect a deliberate attempt to stabilize governance structures and reaffirm accountability at the highest levels.
The coming months — particularly in light of the anticipated AAIB findings — are likely to define the next phase of Air India’s transformation under Tata stewardship.
