Executive Summary:
On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI 171 crashed after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, with a preliminary report released on July 12, 2025. Interim and final compensation is being provided to the families of the victims, along with other support.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Accident Details:**
* Air India flight AI 171, from Ahmedabad to London, crashed on June 12, 2025, at approximately 1:40 PM.
* 242 people were on board: 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and 2 pilots.
* 260 fatalities occurred: 241 on board and 19 on the ground.
* **Investigation:**
* The AAIB is investigating the accident under Rule 11 of the Aircraft Investigation of Accidents Incidents Rules, 2017.
* A preliminary report was published on July 12, 2025, and is available on the AAIB website (www.aaib.gov.in).
* The investigation is ongoing to determine the causes and contributing factors.
* **Compensation and Assistance:**
* India ratified the Montreal Convention, 1999, through amendments to the Carriage by Air Act, 1972, regarding carrier liabilities for death, delay, damage, or loss in international carriage.
* Air India released an interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakhs to the next of kin of 128 deceased as of July 18, 2025.
* Interim compensation for remaining deceased is pending document submission by next of kin.
* TATA Sons completed registration of the Trust on July 18, 2025, to disburse voluntary ex gratia payment of Rs. 1 crore each to the next of kin of the deceased.
* Air India is assisting families with travel, accommodation, medical expenses, and immediate cash payments to injured daily wage earners.
* **Safety Regulations and Oversight:**
* The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has comprehensive civil aviation regulations for safe aircraft operation and maintenance.
* Regulations are continuously updated and aligned with ICAO/EASA standards.
* DGCA has a structured surveillance and audit framework including regular audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* DGCA takes enforcement action for violations per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
Impact Analysis:
* **Families of Victims:**
* Impact: Bereavement, financial loss, need for support and compensation.
* Action Required: Submit necessary documents for interim and final compensation, avail assistance from Air India.
* **Air India:**
* Impact: Financial liabilities, reputational damage, involvement in investigations and compensation processes.
* Action Required: Provide compensation, assist families, cooperate with the AAIB investigation, and reinforce safety measures.
* **Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):**
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring aviation safety and regulatory compliance.
* Action Required: Conduct thorough investigations, update regulations as needed, enhance surveillance and audit frameworks, and take enforcement actions.
* **Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB):**
* Impact: Responsible for determining the cause of the accident and issuing safety recommendations.
* Action Required: Complete the investigation, publish findings, and provide safety recommendations to prevent future incidents.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India: An airline involved in a plane crash from Ahmedabad to London.
Ahmedabad: City in Gujarat, India, where the Air India flight AI 171 originated.
London: City in United Kingdom, specifically Gatwick Airport, the intended destination of Air India flight AI 171.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB: The agency responsible for investigating the Air India flight AI 171 crash.
Montreal Convention, 1999: An international treaty ratified by India that governs the liabilities of air carriers in case of death, injury, or loss.
Carriage by Air Act, 1972: Indian law amended in 2009 to incorporate the Montreal Convention, 1999, regarding compensation for air accidents.
TATA Sons: A conglomerate that established a trust for ex gratia payments to the families of the deceased.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA: The regulatory body in India responsible for civil aviation safety and standards.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
STARRED QUESTION NO. : 69
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
AIR INDIA PLANE CRASH
69. SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R
DR. GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
with 242 people on board bound for London crashed moments after
taking off from the city of Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025 in the
world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) the total number of casualties i.e. loss of lives of air passengers,
medical college students and common people etc., in the said
crash/accident;
(c) whether any enquiry has been set up to find out cause of the
said crash and if so, the findings thereof along with the present
status of the investigation being carried out by the Aircraft Accident
Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in this regard;
(d) the details of compensation being provided to the families of the
victims and other financial and medical assistance to those
severely injured in the crash; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that such incidents
do not occur in future?
ANSWER
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan
Naidu)(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E)
IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 69
FOR REPLY ON 24.07.2025 REGARDING "AIR INDIA PLANE
CRASH" BY "SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R AND DR.
GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P"; ; (a) to (e): Air India flight (AI-
171), a scheduled international flight from Ahmedabad to
Gatwick, London, crashed on 12.06.2025 around 1:40 PM.
There were 242 persons on board including 230
passengers, 10 cabin crew and 2 pilots. ; 260 persons
sustained fatal injuries in the accident, 241 on board and
19 on the ground.; ; An investigation has been ordered by
the Director General, Aircraft Accident Investigation
Bureau (AAIB) under Rule 11 of the Aircraft (Investigation
of Accidents & Incidents) Rules, 2017 to determine the
probable cause(s)/contributory factor(s) leading to
accident of Air India flight AI-171 at Ahmedabad on
12.06.2025.; ; A preliminary report on the accident has
been published by AAIB on 12.07.2025 and is available on
their website www.aaib.gov.in. The investigation is in
progress to determine the probable cause(s)/contributory
factor(s) leading to the accident.; ; India has ratified the
Montreal Convention, 1999 by making amendments to the
Carriage by Air Act, 1972 in 2009 which inter-alia provides
the liabilities of carriers for compensation in case of
death, delay, damage or loss to persons, baggage or cargo
for international carriage.; ; Air India has informed that it
has released an interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakhs to
the Next of Kin (NoK) of 128 deceased persons as on
18.07.2025. For the remaining deceased, the payment of
interim compensation is in various stages of document
submission by the NoK. The process for the final
compensation will be initiated after the completion ofdisbursement of interim compensation.; ; Air India has
also informed that the registration of the requisite Trust
by TATA Sons has been completed on 18.07.2025 and the
airline is in the process of initiating the requisite
documentation and verification formalities to enable the
disbursement of the voluntary ex gratia payment of Rs. 1
crore each to the Next of Kin (NoK) of deceased. Further,
Air India is assisting families of the deceased and injured
in various ways such as travel arrangements,
accommodation, medical expenses, immediate cash
payments to daily wage earners who are injured etc. ; ;
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a
comprehensive and structured civil aviation regulations
for safe operation of aircraft and its maintenance. These
regulations are continuously updated and aligned with the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)/European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards. ; ; DGCA
also has a structured surveillance and audit framework in
place i.e. planned and unplanned surveillance of
organization /aircraft, which includes regular and periodic
audits, spot checks, night surveillance and ramp
inspections across all operators, including continuous
oversight of maintenance practices. In case there is a
violation, DGCA takes enforcement action as per its
Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.