Air India Completes Interim Compensation for AI-171 Crash Victims

Air India finalized interim compensation to most families affected by the AI-171 crash. Interim payments and ex-gratia assistance were largely processed. The airline also returned personal belongings with care and facilitated support through TATA Group's initiative. The final crash investigation is nearing completion.

Air India announced on Thursday that it has completed interim compensation payments for the majority of families affected by the AI-171 crash, which happened in Ahmedabad on June 12 last year. Airline representatives stated that ₹25 lakh (approximately 21,000 GBP) has been provided to assist families of the deceased with immediate financial needs.

Sources from the airline indicated that 96% of the families of the deceased have received interim compensation, while remaining cases involve incomplete documentation or family disputes. For those injured on the ground, 94% have received compensation based on injury severity or loss of income.

The airline has emphasized the ongoing process for final compensation alongside reiterating that there is no pressure on families to accept offers within a set deadline. Additionally, the TATA Group has extended further support through the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust, disbursing ex-gratia payments of ₹1 crore to most affected families, again subject to complete documentation.

The return process for victims' belongings has been handled meticulously, with over 22,000 personal items catalogued and informed to families through digital means. Moreover, 60 families have reclaimed belongings, while others are pending due to documentation gaps or refusal.

Following the crash, a significant emergency response effort was initiated, involving over 500 volunteers from the Tata Group, including 130 from Air India, with a special 24/7 support team assigned to each family. Air India leadership, including CEOs, arrived swiftly at the crash site and expressed condolences directly to affected families.

Anil Kumar Patel, who lost family members in the crash, expressed his hopes for improved safety measures as the crash investigation nears closure. Families are given the option to await the final report before finalizing compensation settlements.