Victims’ Families Express Frustration with Air India’s Compensation Process
The families of the victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last month have accused the Tata Group-owned airline of pressuring them to reveal financial information or risk losing advance compensation. However, Air India has denied these allegations and stated that they are working to expedite the compensation process.
Crash Details and Compensation Plans
The tragic incident took the lives of 274 individuals when the London-bound AI 171 flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12. The only survivor among the 242 passengers and crew was one individual. The Tata Group announced a compensation amount of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and also agreed to cover the expenses of the injured survivors. Additionally, Air India pledged an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh for each victim’s family.
Legal Assistance for Affected Families
Stewarts, a prominent law firm from the UK, is supporting the victims’ families in their pursuit of compensation. The families have raised concerns about being required to complete a complex questionnaire without proper guidance, stating that they may not understand the legal jargon within it. The law firm has criticized Air India for allegedly taking advantage of the families during a vulnerable time and has vowed to assist them throughout the legal process.
Nanavati and Nanavati, a law firm based in Ahmedabad, is working alongside Stewarts to ensure that the affected families receive the compensation they are entitled to.
Air India’s Response
Air India has defended its actions by stating that the information requested is necessary to verify family relationships and ensure that the compensation reaches the correct recipients. The airline has set up a facilitation center at Taj Skyline hotel in Ahmedabad to assist families with completing the questionnaire.
Currently, interim compensation has been disbursed to 47 families, with an additional 55 individuals in the verification process. Air India is actively engaging with the remaining families to expedite the compensation distribution process.
Conclusion
Despite the ongoing controversy, Air India maintains that their efforts are aimed at swiftly providing financial assistance to the affected families. They have emphasized the importance of accurate information to ensure that the compensation reaches those most in need.
