Air India May Insure Passengers On All Flights For Next Few Months After Ahmedabad Tragedy

Last Updated:June 15, 2025, 23:55 IST

A London-bound Air India Flight AI-171 crashed into a residential area of Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing all but one of its 242 passengers and over 30 on the ground.

The Ahmedabad plane crash triggered an outpouring of grief in the country and abroad. (Reuters Image)

Following the devastating Air India accident that killed more than 260 people, Air India may insure every passenger on all its flights as a precautionary measure, according to a source in the airline.

As per the source, each passenger is likely to be covered for approximately Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. This move will remain in effect for at least the next few months.

Insurance payout to dependents of passengers who died in the Air India plane crash at Ahmedabad will be governed by the applicable Montreal Convention of which India is a signatory. Industry experts estimate the total aviation insurance payout could range between $211 million and $280 million (around ₹2,400 crore), according to news agency PTI.

Three days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which has so far claimed over 270 lives, hospital authorities on Sunday confirmed the identification of 47 victims through DNA matching, including that of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Rupani was among the 242 passengers and crew members on board the London-bound Air India flight AI-171 that crashed on Thursday. Only one passengers managed to miraculously survive the crash on that day, while more than 30 people were killed on the ground.

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Due to the severe condition of many bodies, as they are burnt or disfigured, authorities are relying on DNA matching for identification. “A total of 47 plane crash victims have been identified so far through DNA matching. Of these, the bodies of 24 victims have been handed over to their respective families. These deceased were from Rajasthan and different parts of Gujarat," Additional Civil Superintendent Dr. Rajnish Patel told reporters.

Meanwhile, Air India on Sunday said it is working closely with other Tata group companies to provide every possible assistance to the families and loved ones of the plane crash victims.

The airline in a statement also said that over 400 family members have reached Ahmedabad and are being assisted by its teams on the ground. It had earlier promised complete transparency in the investigation into establishing the cause of the accident.

PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited the crash site to assess the situation on Sunday. He was briefed on the sequence of events and interacted with the injured at the Civil Hospital. “I am very pained by the enormity of the tragedy. Everybody is sad. It is our duty to share grief and express our feelings for the victims," Mishra told reporters.

Authorities announced Sunday that the second black box, the cockpit voice recorder, had been recovered. This may offer investigators more clues about what went wrong.

There were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian on board the flight, as well as 12 crew members.

(with inputs from agencies)

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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