Air India on Friday said that it has paid compensation to the families of nearly two-thirds of those who died in the June 12 plane crash in Ahmedabad.
The Air India Dreamliner, flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed just moments after take-off, killing 260 people, including 241 onboard and 19 on the ground, making it one of the worst air disasters in India in recent decades.
In a message to staff, Air India CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson said, “Our teams have been helping families receive interim compensation. Every affected family is being directly assisted by an Air India representative, with nearly two-thirds having already received payment or are in the final stages.”
Air India had earlier announced an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh (around £21,500) for each family to help with immediate financial needs. Its parent company Tata Sons had also promised Rs 1 crore for the family of every person who lost their life in the crash.
Wilson confirmed that the process of reuniting families with the bodies of their loved ones and repatriating them to their hometowns has been completed. He also said Air India’s team on the ground in Ahmedabad will remain in place “for as long as required” to see the compensation process through.
He added that Tata Sons is setting up a system to provide longer-term support to the families and survivors and will share more details when ready.
The airline has also paused some of its domestic and international operations to carry out safety checks and stabilise flight schedules. In mid-June, it announced a 15% cut in international flights using widebody planes until mid-July, citing ongoing safety inspections and global airspace issues.
Calling the crash “one of our darkest days”, Wilson said, “Irrespective of any cause, the accident of AI171 and the loss of so many lives will forever stand as one of our darkest days. It must also signal the start of a new era.”
He further added that Air India will continue to invest in improving its aircraft, service, systems, and most of all, people.
The Air India Dreamliner, flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed just moments after take-off, killing 260 people, including 241 onboard and 19 on the ground, making it one of the worst air disasters in India in recent decades.
In a message to staff, Air India CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson said, “Our teams have been helping families receive interim compensation. Every affected family is being directly assisted by an Air India representative, with nearly two-thirds having already received payment or are in the final stages.”
Air India had earlier announced an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh (around £21,500) for each family to help with immediate financial needs. Its parent company Tata Sons had also promised Rs 1 crore for the family of every person who lost their life in the crash.
Wilson confirmed that the process of reuniting families with the bodies of their loved ones and repatriating them to their hometowns has been completed. He also said Air India’s team on the ground in Ahmedabad will remain in place “for as long as required” to see the compensation process through.
He added that Tata Sons is setting up a system to provide longer-term support to the families and survivors and will share more details when ready.
The airline has also paused some of its domestic and international operations to carry out safety checks and stabilise flight schedules. In mid-June, it announced a 15% cut in international flights using widebody planes until mid-July, citing ongoing safety inspections and global airspace issues.
Calling the crash “one of our darkest days”, Wilson said, “Irrespective of any cause, the accident of AI171 and the loss of so many lives will forever stand as one of our darkest days. It must also signal the start of a new era.”
He further added that Air India will continue to invest in improving its aircraft, service, systems, and most of all, people.
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