Air India responds to Vijay Rupani Daughter’s letter, says no pressure on plane crash victims’ families
Air India has clarified that there is absolutely no deadline or pressure on any family to accept compensation linked to the AI-171 tragedy, following concerns raised by Radhika Rupani, the daughter of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani who was killed in the crash. In its official statement, the Air India said families of AI-171 victims are being offered a structured compensation package that includes an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh and an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 crore from the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust.
The airline further said that the final compensation will differ depending on individual circumstances and will be determined in line with legal and procedural frameworks to ensure fairness. It also emphasised that families are free to wait for the final investigation of the case before making any decision on settlement.
Responding to the concerns raised by the deceased families, the airline said that there is absolutely no deadline or pressure on any family or individual to accept our offer within a set timeframe. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting an independent probe into the incident but it does not have clarity on when the final report will be released.
According to the airline, interim compensation was released soon after the Ahmedabad plane crash to support immediate financial needs of affected families. It also noted that the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust, set up by the Tata Group, has provided ex gratia assistance of Rs 1 crore to almost all bereaved families. Air India claimed that they initiated the final settlement process in October 2025 after completing most interim payments, citing requests from some families who preferred not to wait indefinitely for the investigation outcome. The families retain full freedom to either wait for the investigation report or proceed with the final compensation process at their discretion, the airline said.
The airline’s response follows a letter written by Radhika Mishra, daughter of Vijay Rupani, to Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran, seeking clarity on behalf of families affected by the tragedy. She also urged authorities to ensure that financial assistance is not linked to pressure for legal closure and called for greater transparency and sensitivity in handling compensation matters.