Air India says families free to wait on crash payout

As the first anniversary of one of India's deadliest aviation disasters approaches, Air India has clarified to the families of victims that they are under no pressure to accept a final compensation offer before the official crash investigation concludes. The airline's communication came in response to concerns raised by Radhika Rupani, daughter of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the 260 people killed when Air India Flight 171 crashed on June 12, 2025.

In a letter to Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, Radhika Rupani had sought greater transparency and answers, expressing concern that legal documents associated with the compensation appeared to require families to permanently waive future claims before the cause of the crash was known. She argued that families deserved accountability and closure in addition to financial support.

Air India responded directly to Rupani, stating that its offer of final compensation did not set any timetable for acceptance. The airline emphasized that families are entirely free to wait for the final report from the independent Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) before making a decision. The airline stressed...