**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 155 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on January 29th, 2026, regarding compensation to victims of the Air India Flight 171 crash. It details the status of compensation disbursement, measures for timely compensation, and responses to reports of wrongly identified remains. The document also addresses reforms for victim identification and crisis management.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Compensation Status (Air India Flight 171 Crash):**
* Total deceased: 260 (including 12 crew members); injured: 75.
* Interim compensation released to the next of kin of 250 deceased.
* Interim compensation for the remaining 10 deceased is under verification.
* Final compensation process initiated for all deceased.
* Full and final compensation settled for 44 injured; interim compensation released for 24 injured.
* Interim compensation for the remaining 7 injured is under verification.
* Final compensation process initiated for all who received interim compensation.
* **Compensation Governance:**
* Compensation for death or injury is governed by the Montreal Convention, 1999, and the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.
* **Accident Investigation and Carrier Liability:**
* Procedures governed by Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention, 1944, and the Montreal Convention, 1999.
* India implements these treaties through Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.
**Impact Analysis**
**Families of Deceased Passengers, Crew Members, and Ground Victims of Air India Flight 171**
* **Impact:** Affected by the disbursement of interim and final compensation and the identification/repatriation of remains.
* **Action Required:** Provide necessary information for the final compensation process.
**Injured Individuals from Air India Flight 171**
* **Impact:** Receiving compensation for injuries sustained in the crash.
* **Action Required:** Provide necessary information for the final compensation process, if not already completed.
**British Families of Plane Crash Victims**
* **Impact:** Affected by the errors in the repatriation process and wrongly identified remains.
* **Action Required:** No specific action mentioned, but implied action is to cooperate with steps taken to address the errors.
**Government of India (Ministry of Civil Aviation)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring adequate and timely compensation, addressing errors in repatriation, and implementing reforms for future crisis management.
* **Action Required:** Continue disbursing compensation, address errors in the repatriation process, and implement comprehensive reforms for future aviation disasters.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India Flight 171: The specific flight crash incident that is the subject of the compensation inquiry.
The Carriage by Air Act, 1972: The Indian law incorporating the Montreal Convention, governing compensation for air accidents.
Montreal Convention, 1999: International treaty governing liability and compensation for death or injury in air accidents.
Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025: Rules governing the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents in India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for civil aviation matters, including compensation related to air accidents.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 155
th
(To be answered on the 29 January 2026)
COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF FLIGHT CRASH
155. SHRI G KUMAR NAIK
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) the current status of interim and final compensation disbursed to the families
of the deceased passengers, crew members and ground victims of Air India Flight
171 crash including the number of families who have received such payments and
the details of any pending claims;
(b) the measures taken by the Government to ensure that the interim compensation
provided is adequate and disbursed in a timely manner;
(c) whether the Government is aware of the reports that several British families of
plane crash victims received wrongly identified and commingled mortal remains
including ashes and body parts from multiple individuals as revealed through DNA
testing in July 2025 and if so, the details thereof along with the steps initiated to
address these serious errors in the repatriation process; and
(d) the comprehensive reforms being implemented by the Government to prevent
future lapses in victim identification, compensation procedures and overall crisis
management in aviation disasters including enhanced protocols for DNA
verification and the establishment of family support mechanisms or trusts?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)(a) and (b) The number of deceased was 260 (including 12 crew members) while 75
individuals were injured. According to Air India, interim compensation has been
released to the next of kin of 250 deceased. For the remaining 10, interim
compensation to the next of kin is at various stages of verification. The process for
final compensation has also been initiated in case of all deceased and communication
has been sent to the next of kin for seeking required information.
Out of the 75 injured individuals, full and final compensation has been settled for 44
injured whereas interim compensation has been released for 24 injured. For the
remaining 7 injured individuals, interim compensation is at various stages of
verification. The final compensation process has also been initiated for the
individuals who have received interim compensation.
Payment of compensation to the passengers or next of kin in case of death or bodily
injury to the passenger, caused by air accident/incident, is governed by the provisions
of the Montreal Convention, 1999 as incorporated in the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.
(c) and (d) The procedure for matters related to investigation of accidents and
liability of carriers is governed through Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention, 1944
and the Montreal Convention, 1999, respectively. The Annex 13 to the Chicago
Convention, inter-alia, provides for procedures to be adopted by countries during
investigation of accidents and for making safety recommendations. Further, the
Montreal Convention, 1999 provides for the liability framework of the carriers in
international operations. India is a signatory to both these treaties and implements
them through Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025 and
the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.
*****