Air India owner Tata Group has announced a compensation package of 10 million rupees (approximately $116,854) for the families of each victim who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Gujarat on Thursday.
The London-bound Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft plunged into the premises of B J Medical College, causing significant damage to buildings and leaving a devastating impact on the community.
“We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171,” said N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, in a statement. “No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones and with those who have been injured.”
Beyond the compensation to the victims’ families, Tata Group has pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured and support the rebuilding of the medical hostel that was struck in the crash. “We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time,” Chandrasekaran added.
The crash resulted in at least one confirmed death and left seven people missing, according to the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA). Over 50 individuals were reported injured at the medical college, where many students were having lunch when the plane crashed.
Air India’s Chief Executive Officer, Campbell Wilson, expressed profound sorrow following the incident. “This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India, and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families, and loved ones,” he said in a video statement shared on social media. “Investigations will take time, but anything we can do now, we are doing.”
In response to the tragedy, Air India has organized special relief flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Ahmedabad to assist the next of kin of passengers and staff affected by the crash.
While officials have yet to release an official death toll, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, acknowledged the severity of the accident, stating that “a lot of people have lost their lives in the plane crash.”
Footage circulating on social media shows the aircraft struggling to gain altitude before nosediving and erupting into a massive fireball. Other videos depict thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the crash site, painting a grim picture of the disaster’s aftermath.
