Air India C.E.O.’s Remarks After Plane Crash Draw Scrutiny

Campbell Wilson stood in a gray suit before a camera last week to read a carefully worded statement about the plane operated by Air India, the company he leads, that had crashed hours earlier in Ahmedabad, India, with 242 people aboard.

His remarks immediately drew criticism. Social media users said he appeared cold and lacking in empathy.

Soon after that, another critique emerged: Much of Mr. Wilson’s speech was identical to one given five months earlier by Robert Isom, the chief executive of American Airlines, after a deadly crash in Washington.

The similarities in the two statements are striking. Karthik Srinivasan, a communications consultant in Bengaluru, India, posted transcripts on social media showing that many of Mr. Campbell’s words had exact parallels in Mr. Isom’s.

“First and most importantly, I’d like to express our deep sorrow about these events,” Mr. Isom said in the video published Jan. 29. On June 12, Mr. Wilson began: “First and most importantly, I would like to express our deep sorrow about this event.”

“This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines,” Mr. Isom continued. Mr. Wilson said: “This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India.”