UK-Based Families of Ahmedabad Crash Victims Consider Suing Air India, Boeing for Enhanced Compensation
Families of victims of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash, which claimed 241 lives on June 12—including 181 Indians and 52 UK nationals—are reportedly preparing to file legal action in UK and US courts against Air India and aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
The move comes as the families seek higher compensation and accountability for the deadliest aviation disaster in India in recent years. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 people onboard and 19 individuals on the ground, as it slammed into a medical college.
💼 Legal Battle Brewing in the UK and US
According to The Economic Times, bereaved families are currently in talks with two major international law firms:
- 🇬🇧 Keystone Law (UK-based)
- 🇺🇸 Wisner Law Firm (US-based)
“We are looking carefully at the evidence, as well as considering whether to file legal proceedings in the US courts against Boeing, together with similar proceedings against Air India in the High Court in London,” said James Healy-Pratt, partner at Keystone Law.
He added that Article 33 of the Montreal Convention permits legal claims to be pursued in the UK or US if the airline has operations there or if victims had ties to those countries.
📜 Montreal Convention: A Basis for Lawsuit
Citing Articles 17 and 21 of the Montreal Convention, the legal teams note that:
- The airline holds unlimited liability in cases involving death or injury of passengers.
- Families are entitled to additional damages if negligence or fault is established.
💰 Compensation Offers Under Review
Following the crash, Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, announced:
- ₹1 crore compensation for each victim’s family
- ₹25 lakh for immediate medical expenses
Keystone’s legal team is now reviewing early settlement offers made by Air India’s insurer, Tata AIG, while also conducting a technical investigation into the incident.
🛫 Flight AI-171 Crash: What We Know
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
- Crash site: Shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport, into the premises of a medical college
- Total onboard: 241
- Survivors: 1
- Fatalities on ground: 19
- Total dead: 260
The crash has sparked global concern about Boeing’s safety standards and Air India’s operational protocols, especially after another Air India aircraft dropped 900 feet mid-air just 38 hours after the Ahmedabad incident.
With families actively pursuing legal remedies, the coming months could see significant international litigation against Air India and Boeing, likely to set precedents for aviation accountability and victim compensation.