Air India has confirmed financial compensation for families of the victims killed in the crash of Flight 171, India’s deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade, as the nation grapples with the scale of the tragedy and a multi-agency investigation begins to unfold.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, June 12. Of the 242 people onboard, 230 passengers and 12 crew, only one person survived. The aircraft plunged into a residential district in Meghani Nagar, flattening a hostel for medical students and igniting a massive fire.
The current death toll stands at at least 274, including 29 people on the ground. Among the dead: medical students, local workers, and a pregnant woman.
Compensation Confirmed: Over ₹1.25 Crore Per Victim
In a video statement shared online, Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson confirmed that each family of a deceased passenger will receive over ₹1.25 crore (approx. £106,000 or $133,000) in financial compensation. This is in addition to the ₹1 crore already pledged by parent company Tata Sons, per the New Indian Express.
“This is not a gesture,” Wilson said, “but a commitment to stand by the families in their hour of unimaginable grief.”
Search and Reunification Underway
Efforts are now focused on reuniting families with loved ones and their belongings. Wilson noted that the reunification and repatriation process has begun, with Air India deploying more than 100 caregivers and 40 engineers to Ahmedabad. Support centres have also been opened in London, Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
“This is an emotional process,” Wilson said. “We ask that families be given space and privacy.”
Final Words: “No Thrust, Losing Power”
Authorities have confirmed that Flight 171’s captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, issued a distress call moments after takeoff. His final radio transmission: “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”
The aircraft had barely reached 650 feet before plummeting into the residential block. According to officials, air traffic control attempted to respond, but there was no reply.
Black Boxes Recovered, International Probe Underway
Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, known as the “black boxes”, have been recovered and are under analysis. India’s civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the contents of the black boxes “will offer vital insight into what occurred in those final seconds.”
A team of UK aviation experts has also joined the investigation, which is expected to span several months. Authorities have not ruled out mechanical failure or other causes.
Grief and Frustration Mount at Ahmedabad Hospital
At Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, where victims’ remains are being identified, families are enduring an agonising wait. Many bodies were severely burned, making identification reliant on DNA testing.
“We’ve given our samples, but no one can tell us when we’ll get them back,” said Anil Patel, who lost both his son and daughter-in-law in the crash. “I can still smell the bodies from outside the postmortem ward. It’s unbearable.”
His wife died six years ago. “They were all I had left,” he said. “I just want to take them home.”
Hospital officials said the identification process is progressing but remains complex. “Each DNA sample must be cross-verified against a large pool. It’s painstaking, but we must be certain,” said one administrator.
Air India to Undergo Fleet-Wide Checks
As investigations continue, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to perform precautionary safety checks on all Boeing 787 aircraft.
“These checks are already underway and will be completed within the timelines prescribed,” Wilson confirmed.
“We Are Devastated”
In closing his remarks, Wilson conveyed the airline’s sorrow: “All of us at Air India are devastated by this loss. We mourn with the families, and we are committed to doing everything we can to honour those we’ve lost.”
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