No Pressure, No Deadline: Air India's message to Vijay Rupani's family, other AI171 victims on compensation

AI171 Crash: Air India has written to the daughter of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, assuring her that families affected by the AI171 tragedy are under no pressure to accept compensation offers within a fixed timeframe.

In a letter, the airline said it fully understood the concerns raised by families and emphasised that compensation discussions would remain open even for those who wish to wait for the official investigation report before making any decision.

"We remain deeply saddened by the loss of life and suffering caused to numerous families and individuals as a result of the tragedy of AI-171," Air India said in the letter. Referring to Rupani's death in the crash, the airline added that no words were adequate to express its sorrow over his untimely passing.

No Deadline for Families

Air India clarified that its final compensation offer does not carry any deadline for acceptance. According to the airline, some families have chosen to wait for the findings of the investigation before proceeding further, and they are free to do so.

The airline noted that the investigation is being conducted independently by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and Air India does not know when the final report will be released.

At the same time, the airline said it could not indefinitely pause the compensation process because several families wanted to move ahead with final settlements. Air India began sending claim forms for final compensation in October 2025 after most interim compensation payments had been completed.

Interim Support and Ex-Gratia Assistance

According to Air India, immediate financial assistance was provided soon after the accident to help families deal with urgent expenses while the process for final compensation was being worked out.

The airline said it has paid interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of 96 per cent of the deceased. The remaining cases largely involve incomplete documentation or family disputes.

Separately, the AI171 Memorial and Welfare Trust, set up by Tata Sons, has been providing ex gratia assistance to affected families. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran had announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 1 crore for the families of all those who died in the crash.

Air India said Rs 1 crore payments have been disbursed to 91 per cent of eligible families. The remaining cases mainly involve incomplete paperwork or instances where families choose not to accept the payment.

Air India Responds to Legal Concerns

The letter also addressed concerns about the wording of the Receipt, Discharge and Indemnity (RDI) document that families are asked to sign while accepting final compensation.

Air India said the language used in the document follows standard industry practice adopted by airlines in India and internationally. It stressed that the company has no intention of protecting third parties from legal liability.

According to the airline, the broad wording is intended to ensure that settlements remain final and to protect Air India from future direct or indirect claims after a compensation agreement has been reached.

The airline reiterated that families who want to wait for the outcome of the investigation before signing any settlement documents are free to do so.

Efforts to Return Personal Belongings

Air India also shared details of the process undertaken to return belongings recovered after the crash. The airline said more than 22,000 personal items were preserved, catalogued and documented with the help of an external specialist partner.

For 187 deceased passengers whose belongings could be confidently identified, personal items have already been returned in 139 cases across India and the UK. The remaining cases involve incomplete documentation or families declining to receive the items.

In another category involving belongings that could not be directly linked to a specific individual, families of 60 deceased persons have received returned items. Families were given access to a dedicated online platform to identify such belongings.

The airline added that 15 families have chosen not to take possession of recovered belongings. Of the 25 digital devices recovered from the crash site, 16 have been returned after mandatory screening by Indian authorities.

Support Teams Deployed After the Crash

Air India said more than 500 volunteers from 17 Tata Group companies, including 130 Air India employees, were deployed to support families after the accident.

Each affected family was assigned a trained caregiver to provide round-the-clock assistance, including support during DNA identification procedures, travel arrangements and funeral-related requirements.

A dedicated helpdesk was also set up in Ahmedabad on June 15 to assist families with legal, insurance and financial documentation. The facility continued to operate for more than two months.

According to the airline, senior leadership from Tata Group and Air India reached Ahmedabad within hours of the accident. As of now, CEOs from Tata Group companies have met 152 of the 165 affected families in India and the UK to offer condolences and support.