NEW DELHI: Air India on Saturday said it has completed the payment of interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of 147 passengers who lost their lives in the AI 171 Ahmedabad flight crash. The airline is in the process of disbursing the compensation to 52 more families.
In the horrific 12 June Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad, 229 flyers, 12 airline crew members, and 19 non-passengers allegedly lost their lives.
An official statement said that Air India had started releasing interim payments of Rs 25 lakh to the affected families over a month ago to help them meet their immediate financial needs.
“Air India has so far released the interim compensation to the families of 147 of the 229 deceased passengers and also the 19 who lost their lives at the accident site. In addition, the requisite documents of 52 others have been verified, to whose families the interim compensation will be released progressively,” it said.
This interim payment will be adjusted against any final compensation, the statement added.
The Tata Group has also registered ‘The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust’, dedicated to the victims of the unfortunate accident. The Trust has pledged an ex gratia payment of Rs 1 crore in respect of each of the deceased, and support for rebuilding the B.J. Medical College Hostel infrastructure, which was damaged in the accident.
“The Trust will also provide aid and assistance for alleviation of any trauma or distress suffered by the first responders, medical and disaster relief professionals, social workers, and government staff who provided invaluable institutional support and service in the aftermath of the accident,” it added.