Air India Faces Heat Over Crash Compensation Form, Denies Coercion Allegations

A major controversy has emerged after families of victims from the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash accused Air India of pressuring them into providing financial disclosures before receiving compensation. The airline, however, has firmly denied the allegations, calling them “unsubstantiated and inaccurate.”

India Today has accessed the questionnaire sent by Air India to the families of the deceased. The form requests detailed personal and financial information such as whether the deceased was employed, their occupation, and employer contact details. It also notes that the final compensation amount would depend on the information provided.

Air India stated that this process is part of formal requirements to verify relationships and ensure proper distribution of payments. “We are giving families time and flexibility. Our intention is to support them,” the airline said in a public statement.

The crash, which occurred on June 12, involved a Boeing 787-8 en route to London, crashing into the campus of a medical college in Ahmedabad. Out of 242 passengers and crew, only one survived. An additional 19 people on the ground also lost their lives, bringing the death toll to 260.

The Tata Group, which owns Air India, initially announced a compensation of ₹1 crore, followed by an additional ₹25 lakh to support the families’ immediate needs.

The situation escalated when UK-based law firm Stewarts, representing over 40 families, accused the airline of coercion — alleging that families were told non-compliance might lead to no payout. The law firm also criticized questions that could potentially reduce compensation if families were not financially dependent on the deceased.

Despite the backlash, Air India insists that the intention behind the form was not to exploit but to expedite rightful payments through a proper process.