AI-171 Crash: Air India Refutes Allegations Of Forcing Families To Sign Compensation Documents

Air India has denied allegations that it pressured grieving families of victims of the AI-171 crash into signing documents about financial dependency to reduce compensation payouts. The airline called the claims “unsubstantiated and inaccurate” in a detailed statement released on Friday.

The controversy emerged after UK law firm Stewarts, representing over 40 victims’ families, alleged that Air India was demanding the completion of legally complex compensation forms without proper guidance. The firm claims families were told they must disclose whether they were financially dependent on the deceased in order to receive interim payments and has urged them not to sign the forms.

Air India refuted the accusations, stating that the forms are a standard requirement to ensure interim compensation reaches the rightful beneficiaries promptly.

“Whilst the questionnaire does ask family members to indicate whether they are ‘financially dependent’ on the deceased, Air India believes this is an entirely fair and necessary question,” the airline said in a statement.

The airline clarified that the form can be filled out at a Facilitation Centre set up at the Taj Skyline Hotel in Ahmedabad or submitted by email. Families are free to seek legal advice and are not required to complete the form on site. Air India emphasised that no unsolicited visits to homes were made and that documents filled at hospitals or morgues were unrelated to compensation.

To date, interim payments have been made to 47 families, with documentation for 55 more under review. In addition to legal compensation, Tata Group, which owns Air India, has pledged a voluntary ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore to each bereaved family. A Rs 500 crore trust is being created to manage and distribute the support and provide long-term assistance.

Meanwhile, Stewarts, in collaboration with Nanavati in India and two US law firms, is preparing legal action against Boeing and other parties. The AI-171 flight crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.

Air India urged the public to avoid misinformation and reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, transparency, and compassion during this difficult time.