Airbus SE has expressed its condolences and called for a renewed industry-wide focus on aviation safety following the fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which killed over 240 people. The company dismissed the idea that such tragedies could offer a competitive advantage in the long-standing rivalry between Airbus and Boeing.
Speaking at a press briefing in Paris ahead of the upcoming Paris Air Show, Christian Scherer, Head of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, said, “Safety is in everything that we do, so the tragedy in India, we don’t see that in any way, shape or form as a competitive input. It is, if anything, a reminder to us all that aviation has become so safe that, statistically speaking, every accident is totally unacceptable.”
The crash, which is now the deadliest civil aviation disaster in over a decade, involved a Boeing 787 — a model that had never been involved in a fatal accident until now. Investigations into the cause are ongoing. The aircraft exploded after failing to gain altitude on takeoff, striking nearby buildings and causing significant loss of life on the ground as well.
Airbus competes with Boeing in the wide-body aircraft segment with its A350 and A330neo models, counterparts to Boeing’s Dreamliner. Despite the competition, Airbus executives made it clear that tragedies like this transcend market dynamics.
“Every incident in this industry is an immediate reminder of what can go wrong,” Scherer emphasized.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, also present at the media event, said the company remains committed to its production goals despite global instability and ongoing supply chain challenges. He acknowledged that the target to deliver 820 aircraft this year has become “a little bit more difficult” but affirmed Airbus is still on track. Chief Financial Officer Thomas Toepfer added that due to market volatility, the company is not currently considering share buybacks as a financial strategy.
Boeing, meanwhile, is grappling with the aftermath of the disaster. Its CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has cancelled his appearance at the Paris Air Show to coordinate the company’s response to the incident.
The aviation industry, which had seen a remarkable safety streak in recent years—including no fatal large jetliner crashes in 2023—has now been jolted back to reality. As investigations continue, the focus remains firmly on accountability and improving safety standards for all.
