Air India has confirmed financial compensation packages for the families of the victims killed in the Flight 171 crash, which has been labeled as India’s deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade. The announcement comes as recovery and identification efforts continue, alongside an intensified investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s tragic plunge into a residential district shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
Incident Overview
Flight AI-171, carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed less than a minute after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. The aircraft went down in the Meghani Nagar district, destroying a hostel for medical students and resulting in a massive fireball. The crash has claimed the lives of at least 274 individuals, including 29 people on the ground, among them medical students and local workers.
Compensation Details
Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, announced in a video statement that the airline, along with its parent company Tata Sons, will provide over S$170,000 (approximately £106,000 or $133,000) to the families of each deceased passenger. The flight’s sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, will also receive the same compensation.
To provide immediate financial support, Air India will make an interim payment of S$35,000 (approximately £21,000) to each family of the deceased and to the survivor. Wilson emphasized the airline’s commitment to supporting the grieving families and facilitating the reunification process with their loved ones.
Emergency Response and Investigation
In a desperate last radio transmission, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal issued a mayday call shortly after takeoff, stating, “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.” The aircraft lost altitude from just 650 feet before crashing into the student residential block. Authorities confirmed that air traffic control attempted to respond to the emergency call, but there was no further communication from the pilot.
The aircraft’s black boxes, which contain crucial flight data and cockpit voice recordings, have been recovered and are currently under analysis. A team of UK aviation accident experts has arrived in Ahmedabad to assist with the investigation, which is expected to take at least three months. All potential causes, including mechanical failure, are being thoroughly examined.
Support for Families
Air India has deployed over 100 caregivers and 40 engineers to Ahmedabad, with assistance centers established in London, Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad to support the relatives of passengers and crew. Wilson stated that the technical team is assisting at the crash site while caregivers provide emotional support to families during this difficult time.
At the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, where the bodies are being identified, emotions are running high as families await news of their loved ones. The identification process is complex due to the condition of many remains, with officials explaining that they are dealing with at least 250 samples that require careful cross-verification.
Survivor’s Account
The only surviving passenger, 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh from Leicester, remains under observation in the hospital but is expected to recover soon. He recounted the horror of waking up amid the wreckage, surrounded by bodies, and described his fear as he fled the scene.
Air India’s Commitment
In his statement, Wilson expressed deep sorrow for the tragedy, stating, “All of us at Air India are devastated by this loss and grieve for those affected near families and their loved ones.” The airline is also undergoing mandatory safety checks on its Boeing 787 fleet, as directed by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
As the investigation continues and families await closure, our thoughts remain with all those impacted by this devastating tragedy.