**Executive Summary:**
In response to a parliamentary inquiry regarding the Air India flight AI171 accident in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, the Ministry of Civil Aviation reports that an investigation is underway by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Preliminary findings are available on the AAIB website, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has implemented safety measures, including a special aviation ecosystem audit. Air India has disbursed interim compensation to the families of the deceased and is processing additional compensation through a trust established by TATA Sons.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Investigation:**
* AAIB is investigating the Air India flight AI171 accident that occurred in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
* A preliminary report was published on July 12, 2025, and is available on the AAIB website.
* **Aircraft Information:**
* The aircraft involved was a Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner with registration number VTANB.
* The aircraft underwent routine maintenance and safety inspections per DGCA regulations and manufacturer guidelines.
* **DGCA Safety Measures:**
* DGCA has a surveillance and audit framework that includes planned and unplanned inspections of aircraft.
* DGCA issued General Safety Circular 012025 on June 19, 2025, for a comprehensive special audit to strengthen aviation safety.
* DGCA takes enforcement action for violations as per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
* **Air India Compensation:**
* Air India has released an interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakhs to the Next of Kin of 128 deceased persons as of July 18, 2025.
* Payment of interim compensation for the remaining deceased is in progress, pending document submission.
* TATA Sons completed the registration of a trust on July 18, 2025, to disburse a 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.
* **Legal Framework:**
* India ratified the Montreal Convention, 1999, providing liabilities for carriers in case of death, delay, damage, or loss to persons, baggage, or cargo for international carriage.
**Impact Analysis**
* **AAIB**
* *Impact:* Responsible for conducting and concluding the investigation into the accident.
* *Action Required:* Continue the investigation, finalize the report, and publish findings.
* **DGCA**
* *Impact:* Responsible for ensuring aviation safety and taking enforcement actions.
* *Action Required:* Continue surveillance and audits, implement the special audit, and enforce safety regulations.
* **Air India**
* *Impact:* Responsible for compensating victims and assisting their families.
* *Action Required:* Complete disbursement of interim compensation, initiate disbursement of ex gratia payments through the trust, and continue assisting families.
* **Families of Deceased and Injured**
* *Impact:* Entitled to compensation and assistance from Air India.
* *Action Required:* Submit required documents for interim compensation, await disbursement of ex gratia payments, and avail assistance provided by Air India.
* **TATA Sons**
* *Impact:* Responsible for managing the trust for ex gratia payments.
* *Action Required:* Ensure proper documentation and verification formalities for disbursement of payments.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India: Airline involved in the flight crash in Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad: City in Gujarat, India where the Air India flight crash occurred.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation: The civil aviation authority in India responsible for passenger safety and accountability of airlines (DGCA).
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau: Indian body responsible for investigation of Aircraft Accidents (AAIB).
Aircraft Investigation of Accidents Incidents Rules, 2017: The rule under which AAIB ordered an investigation into the Air India flight accident.
Boeing B7878 Dreamliner: The aircraft model involved in the accident, with registration number VTANB.
Montreal Convention, 1999: International convention ratified by India, addressing liabilities of carriers for compensation in case of death, delay, damage or loss during international carriage.
Carriage by Air Act, 1972: Indian law amended in 2009 to incorporate the Montreal Convention, 1999, regarding compensation for death, delay, damage or loss during carriage by air.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 905
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
TECHNICAL LAPSE IN AIRCRAFT
905. SMT SAJDA AHMED
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has identified the specific technical
lapse that led to the recent Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the name of the aircraft model
involved and its maintenance status prior to the incident;
(c) the immediate steps taken by the Government/the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure passenger safety and
accountability of the airline; and
(d) whether the Government has announced any compensation for
the victims and ordered a nationwide technical audit of aircraft and
if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (d): 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. The
aircraft involved in the accident was Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner with
registration no. VT-ANB.;
;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.;
;
The aircraft bearing registration VT-ANB underwent routine
maintenance and safety inspections as per the approved
maintenance program in compliance with DGCA regulations and the
manufacturer's guidelines.
;
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.;
;
Further, DGCA has issued General Safety Circular 01/2025 on 19
June 2025, which deals with comprehensive special audit to assess
aviation ecosystem and strengthen aviation safety architecture.;
;
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. ;;
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.;
******