Parliament Question: Compensation to Victims of Flight Crash

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.

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