Ahmedabad plane crash: US Attorney Mike Andrews on ongoing probe, compensation delays and complainant’s concerns

Six months after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that took 241 lives, families of the victims still await clear answers as investigators analyse key flight data in the United States.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has travelled to Washington, DC, to collaborate with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). They are focusing on the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from Flight 171, crucial for understanding the moments leading up to the crash.

The investigation has also reached the Supreme Court of India, where the pilot's father has filed a petition seeking an independent review and greater transparency after concerns arose that early disclosures led to speculation about pilot error before firm conclusions.

US Attorney Mike Andrews, representing over 130 affected families, emphasises that several potential causes are still being examined, including aircraft design issues and maintenance failures. Drawing conclusions at this stage would be premature.

The attorney said he visited the crash site twice, shortly after the incident and again two months later during a candlelight vigil. “While debris had largely been removed and the street reopened, burn marks on buildings and trees remained visible. Structural damage in the area continues to reflect the scale of the destruction,” he said.

The crash killed all but one passenger and crew on flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, and people on the ground. This included pedestrians and children inside the nearby medical college building. Families of ground victims seek justice through the same legal process as passengers’ relatives, according to him.

Regarding Boeing’s role, Andrews stated that if responsibility is established against the aircraft manufacturer, legal action would be pursued in US courts. He noted that the US legal system allows detailed discovery in defective product cases, enabling a jury to determine accountability. Any compensation in such a case would be decided by the jury.

Talking about personal belongings, he said, more than 25,000 personal items have been recovered, catalogued, and are being returned to families. Items with identifiable tags are being prioritised, while others may take longer.

According to Andrews, some families in Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat have begun receiving the ₹4 lakh compensation announced by the state government. Most families in Mumbai are still waiting, with delays possibly linked to miscommunication and procedural issues.

He stressed that compensation and justice are separate matters. Families have received varying interim relief, including ₹25 lakh from Air India and a ₹1 crore compensation announced by the Tata Group. Many families, however, have not yet received the full amount announced by the Tata Group , as beneficiaries are being identified carefully.

Additional claims may be pursued against Air India under the Montreal Convention, alongside possible cases against Boeing and component manufacturers, according to Andrews.

A major concern involves reports that some families were asked to sign legal release documents in exchange for small sums of money. 

“We have heard stories, and they are very troubling to be quite honest, that some families have been approached and asked to sign a release in return for a very small amount of money, and it would compromise and give up all future claims against Air India, against Boeing and anyone else,” said Andrews.

As the investigation continues across borders, families say their demand remains the same: accountability, transparency and answers.