Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation addressed questions regarding the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, including the investigation, compliance with international protocols, safety audits, compensation to victims, and the consideration of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) ordered an investigation and is following ICAO Annex 13 guidelines. Post-privatization, Air India underwent regulatory audits in 2023 and 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Investigation into the Ahmedabad Air Crash:
* AAIB ordered an investigation under Rule 11 of the Aircraft Investigation of Accidents Incidents Rules, 2017, to determine the causes of the Air India flight AI171 accident.
* AAIB is adhering to the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) outlined in ICAO Annex 13 for the investigation.
Safety Audits Post-Privatization:
* Two regulatory audits of Air India were conducted in 2023 and 2025 post-privatization.
* DGCA has a structured surveillance and audit framework, including regular audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* DGCA takes enforcement action for violations as per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
Compensation for Victims:
* India ratified the Montreal Convention, 1999, providing liabilities for compensation in case of death, delay, damage, or loss.
* Air India released an interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakhs to the Next of Kin (NoK) of 128 deceased as of July 18, 2025.
* Payment of interim compensation for the remaining deceased is in progress, pending document submission by NoK.
* TATA Sons completed the registration of a Trust on July 18, 2025, to enable the disbursement of voluntary ex gratia payment of Rs. 1 crore each to the NoK of deceased.
* Air India is assisting families with travel, accommodation, medical expenses, and immediate cash payments to injured daily wage earners.
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC):
* The government is not considering constituting a JPC to examine regulatory failures and safety standards.
Impact Analysis:
AAIB:
* Impact: Responsible for conducting the investigation into the Air India flight AI171 accident.
* Action Required: Continue the investigation following ICAO Annex 13 guidelines and determine the probable causes of the accident.
Air India:
* Impact: Subject to regulatory audits and responsible for providing compensation to the victims' families.
* Action Required: Complete the disbursement of interim compensation, finalize the process for final compensation, and facilitate the voluntary ex gratia payment through the TATA Sons Trust. Continue assisting families of the deceased and injured.
DGCA:
* Impact: Responsible for the surveillance and audit framework of domestic airlines, including Air India.
* Action Required: Maintain the structured surveillance and audit framework, take enforcement action for violations, and ensure continuous oversight of maintenance practices.
Families of Victims:
* Impact: Entitled to compensation as per the Montreal Convention and Air India's compensation policies.
* Action Required: Submit required documents to receive interim and final compensation.
TATA Sons:
* Impact: Responsible for the disbursement of ex gratia payments through the Trust.
* Action Required: Initiate the requisite documentation and verification formalities to enable the disbursement of the voluntary ex gratia payment.
Key Entities Referenced
Ahmedabad Air Crash: Refers to the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB: The agency responsible for investigating aircraft accidents in India.
Air India: A domestic airline in India that experienced a plane crash in Ahmedabad.
International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO: A specialized agency of the United Nations that codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safety and orderly growth.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA: The regulatory body for civil aviation in India, responsible for safety oversight and enforcement.
Montreal Convention, 1999: An international treaty that establishes airline liability in case of death or injury to passengers, as well as damage or loss of baggage and cargo.
Carriage by Air Act, 1972: The India's act amended in 2009 to incorporate the provisions of the Montreal Convention, 1999 regarding liability of carriers.
TATA Sons: The holding company of the TATA group and owner of Air India after privatization. They have established a trust to provide ex gratia payments to the families of the deceased.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 760
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
INVESTIGATION INTO THE AHMEDABAD AIR CRASH
760. SHRI MANISH TEWARI
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has
appointed a Lead Investigator for the Air India Boeing 787 crash in
Ahmedabad, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor;
(b) whether the delay in appointing a Lead Investigator contravenes
the protocols laid down under Annex 13 of the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) and if so, the details thereof along with
the steps being taken by the Government to ensure compliance and
restore international credibility;
(c) whether any safety audits of domestic airlines were undertaken,
especially post-privatisation of Air India, if so, the details thereof
and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of compensation announced for the victims of the
plane crash including both passengers and the medical residents of
the affected building; and
(e) whether the Government is considering to suggest for
constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine
regulatory failures and safety standards in view of the increasing
number of aviation-related incidents and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)(a): An Investigation has been ordered by 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 the accident
of Air India flight AI-171 at Ahmedabad on 12.06.2025.;
;
(b): AAIB had ordered an investigation immediately after the
accident took place. AAIB follows the Standards and Recommended
Practices (SARPs) as outlined in International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13 on "Aircraft Accident and Incident
Investigation" and the same is being followed for AI-171 crash
investigation.;
;
(c): Post privatisation, 02 regulatory audits of M/s Air India were
carried out during the year 2023 and 2025. Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (DGCA) 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.;
;
(d): 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 theairline 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.;
;
(e): No such proposal is under consideration.
******