On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner owned by Tata Sons Group, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. The flight carried 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, with 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens on board.
The plane crashed into a hostel at B.J. Medical College in the Meghani Nagar residential area, about 5 km from the airport, just five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time, following a Mayday call.
The crash resulted in a massive explosion and fire, fueled by the plane’s 125,000 liters of fuel, killing 241 people on board, with only one survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, who escaped via an emergency exit.
Additionally, at least 24 people on the ground, including medical students, were killed, with estimates of total deaths ranging from 240 to 269 due to initial double-counting of body parts. Over 50 medical students were hospitalized, with at least four missing and two in critical condition.
Tata Group, which acquired Air India in 2022, announced ₹1 crore (approximately $116,000) compensation for each victim’s family and pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured and support rebuilding the damaged hostel. N. Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons Chairman, expressed profound grief and committed to supporting affected families and cooperating with investigations led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
GE Aerospace, the engine manufacturer, also activated its emergency response team. Initial reports suggest the plane struggled to gain altitude, possibly due to a flap malfunction, as it failed to retract landing gear and lacked sufficient airspeed or climb rate.
One black box has been recovered, but the exact cause remains under investigation, with no immediate evidence of a manufacturing or design flaw. This was the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011.
The crash, the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade, prompted condolences from global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Trump, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Air India set up a passenger hotline (1800 5691 444), and Ahmedabad airport suspended operations. The Tata Group faced a 2-3% drop in shares of its companies, and Boeing’s stock fell 5% in pre-market trading.
The Montreal Convention (1999):
The Montreal Convention (1999) is an international treaty governing airline liability for passenger injury, death, baggage issues, and cargo during international air travel.
● Key points:
■ Passenger Compensation: Airlines are strictly liable for damages up to 128,821 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs, ~$170,000 USD as of 2025) for death or injury. Beyond this, airlines can be liable unless they prove no negligence.
■ Baggage and Cargo: Compensation for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage is capped at 1,288 SDRs (~$1,700) per passenger. Cargo liability is limited to 22 SDRs per kg.
■ Jurisdiction: Claims can be filed in the passenger’s home country, departure/arrival points, or airline’s principal place of business.
■ Time Limit: Claims must be filed within 2 years.Modernization: Replaces the Warsaw Convention (1929), offering higher compensation and clearer rules.
It applies to international flights between signatory countries (over 130, including India).
Is Tata Sons Announcement under the Montreal Convention?
The Tata Sons announcement of ₹1 crore (~$120,000 USD) assistance to the families of those deceased in the Air India Flight 171 crash is not explicitly under the Montreal Convention, but it aligns with its principles.
The Montreal Convention (1999) sets a framework for airline liability in international air travel, requiring compensation for passenger death or injury up to 128,821 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs, ~$170,000 USD as of 2025) without proving airline fault, and potentially more unless the airline proves no negligence.
Tata Sons’ announcement appears to be a voluntary gesture of goodwill or corporate social responsibility, as it specifies “assistance” rather than a legal settlement under the Convention. The amount is slightly below the Convention’s strict liability cap, and the announcement does not reference the treaty directly.
It’s likely an immediate relief measure, separate from any formal claims process under the Montreal Convention, which would involve legal proceedings and could result in higher compensation depending on the crash investigation’s findings (e.g., negligence).