Executive Summary:
This document is the response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, aviation safety incidents, and compensation to victims' families. The response addresses the status of the investigation, reported incidents, safety measures, the role of the DGCA, and details of compensation provided. The High-Level Committee investigating the crash has not yet submitted its report as of July 24, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Air India Flight AI171 Crash Investigation:**
* The High-Level Committee investigating the Air India Flight AI171 crash on 12.06.2025 at Ahmedabad has not yet submitted its report.
* **Aviation Safety Incidents:**
* 58 aviation safety incidents were reported in the last three years due to reasons such as bad weather, technical issues, and bird hits.
* Year-wise incident breakdown:
* 2023: 24
* 2024: 17
* 2025 (up to June): 17
* **Aviation Safety Standards & DGCA's Role:**
* The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) maintains comprehensive civil aviation regulations for safe aircraft operation and maintenance.
* Regulations are continuously updated and aligned with ICAO and EASA standards.
* DGCA employs a structured surveillance and audit framework, including regular audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* Enforcement actions are taken by DGCA in case of violations, as per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
* **Compensation to Victims' Families:**
* India has ratified the Montreal Convention, 1999, through amendments to the Carriage by Air Act, 1972, providing for carrier liabilities for compensation in case of death, delay, damage, or loss.
* Air India has released interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakhs to the Next of Kin (NoK) of 128 deceased persons as of 18.07.2025.
* Interim compensation payments for the remaining deceased are in progress, pending document submission by the NoK.
* TATA Sons completed the registration of the requisite Trust on 18.07.2025 to enable the disbursement of a voluntary ex gratia payment of Rs. 1 crore each to the NoK of the deceased.
* Air India is assisting families of the deceased and injured with travel, accommodation, medical expenses, and immediate cash payments to injured daily wage earners.
Impact Analysis:
**Air India:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for disbursing interim and final compensation to the families of the deceased and providing assistance to affected families.
* *Action Required:* Continue processing compensation claims, ensure timely disbursement of payments, and maintain support services for affected families.
**Families of Deceased and Injured:**
* *Impact:* Entitled to compensation as per the Montreal Convention and ex gratia payments from Air India/TATA Sons.
* *Action Required:* Submit necessary documents to Air India to facilitate the processing of interim and final compensation claims.
**Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for maintaining and enforcing aviation safety standards.
* *Action Required:* Continue to update and align regulations with international standards, conduct surveillance and audits, and take enforcement actions as necessary.
**High-Level Committee:**
* *Impact:* Tasked with investigating the cause of the Air India Flight AI171 crash.
* *Action Required:* Expedite the investigation and submit the final report.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India Flight 171: The Air India Flight 171 that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, resulting in casualties.
Ahmedabad: Location of the plane crash in Gujarat State, India.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation: The civil aviation authority in India, responsible for aviation safety and regulation.
International Civil Aviation Organisation: An international body whose standards the DGCA aligns with.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency: An agency whose standards the DGCA aligns with.
Montreal Convention, 1999: An international treaty related to compensation for death or injury of passengers during international carriage by air, ratified by India.
Carriage by Air Act, 1972: The Indian law amended in 2009 to incorporate the Montreal Convention, 1999.
TATA Sons: Company that completed the registration of the trust for voluntary ex gratia payment to the Next of Kin of deceased of Air India flight 171
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 802
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
AVIATION SAFETY
802. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the findings of the high-powered committee formed by the
Government to investigate the Ahmedabad plane crash of Air India
Flight 171 of June 12, 2025 with casualties of more than 270 people;
(b) the number of aviation safety incidents reported during the last
three years along with their causes;
(c) the measures to strengthen the aviation safety standards to
prevent incidents such as the Ahmedabad crash, particularly
maintenance of airplanes, adequate pilot training in case of
emergencies, engine failures and cybersecurity threats on onboard
software;
(d) the role of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in preventing
such incidents; and
(e) the details of compensation provided to victims’ families
including for ground victims?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (e) :The High Level Committee constituted to investigate Air
India flight (AI-171) crash on 12.06.2025 at Ahmedabad, has not
submitted its report.;
;58 Incidents were reported during last three years. These incidents
may arise due to various reasons like bad weather, technical snags,
bird hits etc. The year-wise breakup of the incidents is given below:
2023 - 24
2024 - 17
2025 - 17;;
(upto June, 2025)
;
;;
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.;
;
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 of disbursement 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. ;
******