The Tata Group announced on Thursday that it will provide ₹1 crore to the next of kin of each of the 241 people who lost their lives when Air India Flight AI‑171 plunged into a building near Ahmedabad airport shortly after takeoff. The company also committed to cover all medical costs for those who survived the crash and to rebuild the damaged hostel at BJ Medical College, where the aircraft struck a corner of the five‑storey structure.
Corporate Response
Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran issued a statement expressing profound sorrow and responsibility, saying that at a moment like this monetary aid can only go so far, yet it stands as a sign of support and respect for the families who face unimaginable loss. He explained that the group felt an obligation to act immediately and generously, so that no family member would worry about expenses related to funeral rites or long‑term care for the injured. Moreover, Chandrasekaran confirmed that Tata will arrange logistical help, including travel and lodging, for relatives who must journey to Gujarat in the coming days, and that the group’s charitable arm will set up a helpline to guide families through compensation procedures and local support services.
Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, described June 12 as a day of deep anguish for his colleagues and customers around the world. He noted that rescue and relief teams have stayed on site throughout the night to search for survivors and collect evidence, while the airline has dispatched special flights from Delhi and Mumbai to bring affected families to Ahmedabad. He added that every team member at Air India feels a direct sense of loss and solidarity, and he thanked his staff for working under intense pressure to arrange immediate help, from counselling to temporary housing.
Crash Details
Flight AI‑171, operated by an eleven‑year‑old Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at roughly 2 p.m. local time bound for London Gatwick when it issued a distress call. Flight tracking services recorded the aircraft climbing to only 625 feet before it began a rapid descent of 475 feet per minute. Moments later, the jet collided with the hostel building attached to BJ Medical College, causing a massive fireball and widespread damage to classrooms and dorm rooms. Emergency crews worked for hours to extinguish flames and locate the lone survivor, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who managed to call his family by video and say, “I do not know how I am alive,” before losing connection. His brother Nayan told the press that he had been travelling with another sibling who remains unaccounted for.
The passenger list included 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese travellers, and one Canadian visitor. Among those confirmed dead was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose presence on the flight underscored the gravity of the tragedy and prompted condolences from senior officials across India and abroad.
Aviation Context
This accident marks the first fatal loss of a Boeing 787 since its entry into service in 2011 and represents Air India’s most severe disaster since the Tata Group completed its acquisition of the airline in late 2022. Aviation expert Jeff Guzzetti, a former safety investigator with the US National Transportation Safety Board, told reporters that preliminary video footage suggests the aircraft struggled to gain lift and may have suffered an engine or control malfunction. He said that investigators will analyse flight data and cockpit voice recorders in detail, and that they may seek assistance from American agencies given Boeing’s role as the manufacturer.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has opened a formal inquiry, and teams are already on site collecting debris and interviewing air traffic controllers. Weather reports show that conditions at the time were calm with good visibility, reducing the likelihood that environmental factors played a major part in the crash. Nevertheless, Guzzetti cautioned that investigators must consider all possibilities, from mechanical failures to crew procedures, before drawing conclusions.
Looking Ahead
As rescue efforts wind down and families begin to make funeral arrangements, the focus will turn to understanding how such a modern aircraft could descend so suddenly after takeoff. Meanwhile, the Tata Group’s pledge aims to ease immediate burdens and honour the memory of those who perished. The company will also work with local authorities to restore the damaged college facilities, ensuring that students can return to their studies as soon as possible. In the weeks to come, airline officials and regulators will face intense scrutiny as they seek to prevent a repeat of a tragedy that has shaken India’s aviation community and reverberated around the globe.
