Fri Jul 04 08:53:51 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Air India Denies Coercing Families of AI-171 Crash Victims Over Compensation Forms**
**New Delhi – July 4, 2025** – Air India has vehemently denied allegations that it coerced families of victims of the AI-171 plane crash near Ahmedabad into signing documents regarding their financial dependency on the deceased, allegedly to reduce compensation payouts. The airline issued a detailed statement today, calling the reports “unsubstantiated and inaccurate.”
The controversy arose following reports that bereaved families were being pressured to disclose financial ties to their deceased loved ones as a prerequisite for receiving interim compensation. Air India clarified that the request for information was part of a standard procedure to ensure prompt payment to rightful beneficiaries.
“Efforts are being made by the airlines to process the payment of the interim compensation (also referred to as advance compensation) as soon as possible,” Air India stated. “To facilitate payments, the airlines have sought basic information to establish family relationships to ensure that the advance payments are received by those entitled to them.”
The airline established a Facilitation Centre in Ahmedabad on June 15th to assist families with the process, making the questionnaire available both in person and via email. Staff were available to explain the form, and families were given copies of their submissions upon request.
Air India also refuted claims that its representatives visited family residences solely to fill out the questionnaires. They confirmed that interim compensation had been disbursed to 47 families, with verification underway for the remaining 55.
In addition to Air India’s legal obligations, the Tata Group, the airline’s parent company, announced a voluntary ex-gratia payment of ₹1 crore (approximately GBP 85,000) to each bereaved family. A trust with a corpus of ₹500 crore (approximately GBP 43 million) is being established to manage this payment and provide long-term assistance.
Air India urged the public to be cautious of misinformation and avoid misinterpreting the facts. The airline reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community during challenging times, emphasizing its core values of integrity and responsibility.
First Piper 