Lok Sabha Question No. 155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Compensation to Victims of Flight Crash
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri G Kumar Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 155

(To be answered on the 29 th January 2026)

## COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF FLIGHT CRASH

## 155. SHRI G KUMAR NAIK

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-

- (a) the current status of interim and final compensation disbursed to the families of the deceased passengers, crew members and ground victims of Air India Flight 171 crash including the number of families who have received such payments and the details of any pending claims;
- (b) the measures taken by the Government to ensure that the interim compensation provided is adequate and disbursed in a timely manner;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the reports that several British families of plane crash victims received wrongly identified and commingled mortal remains including ashes and body parts from multiple individuals as revealed through DNA testing in July 2025 and if so, the details thereof along with the steps initiated to address these serious errors in the repatriation process; and
- (d) the comprehensive reforms being implemented by the Government to prevent future  lapses  in  victim  identification,  compensation  procedures  and  overall  crisis management in aviation disasters including enhanced protocols for  DNA verification and the establishment of family support mechanisms or trusts?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) and (b) The number of deceased was 260 (including 12 crew members) while 75 individuals were injured. According to Air India, interim compensation has been released  to  the  next  of  kin  of  250  deceased.  For  the  remaining  10,  interim compensation to the next of kin is at various stages of verification. The process for final compensation has also been initiated in case of all deceased and communication has been sent to the next of kin for seeking required information.

Out of the 75 injured individuals, full and final compensation has been settled for 44 injured  whereas  interim  compensation  has  been  released  for  24  injured.  For  the remaining  7  injured  individuals,  interim  compensation  is  at  various  stages  of verification.  The  final  compensation  process  has  also  been  initiated  for  the individuals who have received interim compensation.

Payment of compensation to the passengers or next of kin in case of death or bodily injury to the passenger, caused by air accident/incident, is governed by the provisions of the Montreal Convention, 1999 as incorporated in the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.

(c)  and  (d)  The  procedure  for  matters  related  to  investigation  of  accidents  and liability of carriers is governed through Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention, 1944 and  the  Montreal  Convention,  1999,  respectively.  The  Annex  13  to  the  Chicago Convention, inter-alia, provides for procedures to be adopted by countries during investigation  of  accidents  and  for  making  safety  recommendations.  Further,  the Montreal Convention, 1999 provides for the liability framework of the carriers in international operations. India is a signatory to both these treaties and implements them through Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025 and the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.

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