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Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Air India begins disbursement of ₹25 lakh compensation to Ahmedabad crash victims' families, 3 receive payment so far
Air India has begun disbursing the interim compensation of ₹ 25 lakhs to Ahmedabad crash victims' families, with three families having received the payments so far, the airline said in a statement released on Saturday. The sum of ₹ 25 lakh is in addition to the ₹ 1 crore or approximately GBP 85,000 compensation, which the Tata Sons group had announced hours after the fatal crash. Air India also stated that it has been 'reaching out to those who were injured and the families of those who lost their lives on the ground to initiate the compensation process for them.' As many as 270 people were killed — including 241 people onboard the ill fated flight, 29 others on ground — after Air India's flight A1171 smashed into Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College Hostel on Thursday, June 12, reported PTI. Air India further added that families were being assisted through out the hospital processes, including DNA identification of the victims. Family members of Mahesh Kalavadiya, 34, who died after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane crashed during take-off from an airport, mourn in Ahmedabad, India, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave As of Saturday, a total of 247 victims have been identified through DNA tests, with 232 bodies handed over to kin, officials told news wire PTI. Following the crash, since many of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of victims of the horrific tragedy. The Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital — where the bodies are being kept — Dr Rakesh Joshi said that the 247 victims who have been identified comprise 187 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and a Canadian. Of the 187 Indians, a total of 175 were on board the ill-fated aircraft and belonged to areas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Diu and Nagaland. With the DNA identification process still underway, eight families who lost their near ones in the crash have been asked to submit the DNA sample of another relative as the previous ones failed to match.
The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
India's watchdog warns Air India for breaching pilots' flight duty timings
FILE PHOTO: An Air India Airbus A320-200 aircraft takes off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, July 7, 2017. Picture taken July 7, 2017/REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's aviation watchdog has issued a warning to Air India for "repeated and serious violations" related to pilot duty scheduling and oversight, according to government directives reviewed by Reuters on Saturday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed Air India to remove three company executives from crew scheduling roles - a divisional vice president, a chief manager of crew scheduling and one planning executive - for lapses linked to flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 and May 17 that exceeded the stipulated pilot flight time limit of 10 hours. The June 20 order cited "systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversights" and criticised the lack of strict disciplinary measures against responsible officials. The latest action by the aviation authority against the airline is unrelated to this month's crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard but signal heightened scrutiny of the airline. On Thursday, Reuters reported the authorities had also warned Air India for breaching safety rules after three of its Airbus planes flew despite being overdue for checks on emergency equipment of escape slides. The latest order by assistant director of operations at the DGCA, Himanshu Srivastava, said: "Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible." In a statement to Reuters, Air India said it has implemented the DGCA order and in the interim, the company's chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre. "Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," it added. The DGCA stated in its order that Air India had voluntarily disclosed the violations. Air India was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022 and faces many challenges in its attempts to rebuild its image, after years of criticism from travelers for poor service. The Indian regulator, like many abroad, often fines airlines for compliance lapses. India's government in February told parliament that authorities had warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations last year. Around half of them - 12 - involved Air India and Air India Express. The biggest fine was $127,000 on Air India for "insufficient oxygen on board" during some international flights. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
India's watchdog warns Air India for breaching pilots' flight duty timings
FILE PHOTO: An Air India Airbus A320-200 aircraft takes off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, July 7, 2017. Picture taken July 7, 2017/REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo NEW DELHI - India's aviation watchdog has issued a warning to Air India for "repeated and serious violations" related to pilot duty scheduling and oversight, according to government directives reviewed by Reuters on Saturday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed Air India to remove three company executives from crew scheduling roles - a divisional vice president, a chief manager of crew scheduling and one planning executive - for lapses linked to flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 and May 17 that exceeded the stipulated pilot flight time limit of 10 hours. The June 20 order cited "systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversights" and criticised the lack of strict disciplinary measures against responsible officials. The latest action by the aviation authority against the airline is unrelated to this month's crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard but signal heightened scrutiny of the airline. On Thursday, Reuters reported the authorities had also warned Air India for breaching safety rules after three of its Airbus planes flew despite being overdue for checks on emergency equipment of escape slides. The latest order by assistant director of operations at the DGCA, Himanshu Srivastava, said: "Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible." In a statement to Reuters, Air India said it has implemented the DGCA order and in the interim, the company's chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre. "Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," it added. The DGCA stated in its order that Air India had voluntarily disclosed the violations. Air India was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022 and faces many challenges in its attempts to rebuild its image, after years of criticism from travelers for poor service. The Indian regulator, like many abroad, often fines airlines for compliance lapses. India's government in February told parliament that authorities had warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations last year. Around half of them - 12 - involved Air India and Air India Express. The biggest fine was $127,000 on Air India for "insufficient oxygen on board" during some international flights. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
India regulator asks Air India for training data of pilots, dispatcher of crashed plane
FILE PHOTO: Members of Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, which crashed during take-off from an airport in Ahmedabad, India June 14, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo People stand next to a condolence banner as they wait for the body of Sumeet Sabharwal, a pilot who died when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed during take-off from an airport, to be handed over to his family in Mumbai, India, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Hemanshi Kamani NEW DELHI - India's aviation safety watchdog has asked Air India for the training records of the pilots and dispatcher for the plane that crashed last week as part of its investigation into the incident that killed at least 271 people, government memos showed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also asked all flying schools to conduct training compliance checks, according to the confidential memos, seen by Reuters. The DGCA said the requests were part of a "regulatory" review of the accident, and also sought details of action taken following the watchdog's audits of Air India in the last few months. It asked for the details to be provided by Monday. It was not clear whether Air India had complied with the directive. The airline and the DGCA did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London with 242 people on board began losing height seconds after take-off in Ahmedabad on Thursday before crashing into nearby buildings. Everyone on board was killed, bar a single passenger, along with about 30 on the ground. Sumeet Sabharwal, who the Indian government has said had 8,200 flying hours of experience and was also an Air India instructor, was the commanding pilot of flight AI171. His co-pilot was Clive Kunder who had 1,100 hours of experience. Sabharwal's funeral took place in Mumbai on Tuesday. The watchdog requested for training details and supporting documents for the pilots, as well as for the flight dispatcher. The memo did not elaborate on the type of documents required, but accident investigations commonly look at a crew's training and qualifications, flight history, medical records and any actions previously taken against them. The memo did not raise any concerns with Air India's operations and some of the requests are standard in the aftermath of a major incident. Dispatchers are DGCA-certified ground-based airline employees whose role includes flight planning, assessing weather and airspace conditions, and coordination with the pilots. While the request for pilot training data was sent by the DGCA, the accident investigation is being led by another wing of the aviation ministry, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Air India's Chairman N. Chandrasekaran told staff on Monday the incident should be a catalyst to build a safer airline. The DGCA, through a separate memo dated June 16, also asked flying schools across the country to "strictly follow additional safety and operational measures." The regulator said instructors must check for compliance with procedures concerning training, maintenance and licensing, and coordinate flight plans with nearby airports in advance to ensure any emergencies are dealt with swiftly. "Compliance will be assessed during audits/surveillance," said the memo by the Directorate of Flying Training, reviewed by Reuters. Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, visited Air India's headquarters near New Delhi and met the airline's chairman to discuss the crash, Reuters reported on Monday. The crash poses a new challenge for Air India, which the Tata Group bought in 2022 and has been trying to revamp, and Boeing, which is trying to rebuild public trust following a series of safety and production crises. In a June 13 memo headed "updating airport emergency plan", seen by Reuters, government-managed airports have also been asked to conduct a full-scale training exercise - typically an emergency drill - on June 30. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
GMA Network
5 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
India plane crash victim had flown home to bury his father
The tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner is seen stuck on a building after the plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/ Amit Dave/File photo AHMEDABAD, India - Lawrence Christian had flown to India to bury his father. A fortnight later, his family is now waiting to bury him. Christian, 30, worked in Britain and was one of the passengers on the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London that crashed last week with 242 people on board, seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad. "When he sat on the plane, he saw me over a video call and bid adieu," his mother Ravina told Reuters at her home in Ahmedabad, sobbing inconsolably as she sat with her daughter Rinal. "The last thing he said was that he was switching off his phone and would call me after he lands." All but one person on board was declared dead in the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. Around 30 people died on the ground. Ravina Christian lost her husband, Daniel, in May to heart-related complications, and their son was the only bread-winner in the family. Christian's grandmother, Salvina Christian, said: 'We have lost everything, the three of us have been left here. Our strength, our pride, everything has gone. We have lost the light of our home." The family was waiting to receive Christian's remains. Doctors in Ahmedabad's biggest government hospital have been relying on dental records and DNA samples to identify the dead. Imitaz Ali Sayed is one of those people, waiting to hear if his brother Sayed Javed Ali, his brother's wife, six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, have been identified. The four were visiting India for a family Eid celebration and to visit their mother, and are presumed dead in the crash, but he says he still holds out hope that they might have survived. "There is still hope inside. Anything is possible. It is the Almighty who decides if one lives or dies," he told Reuters outside the hospital. — Reuters
