A leading aviation lawyer has strongly criticized Air India for its treatment of families who lost loved ones in the recent Flight 171 disaster, describing the airline’s conduct as “ethically unacceptable.”
Peter Neenan, a partner at UK-based law firm Stewarts and an experienced legal representative in major aviation cases including MH17 and MH370, voiced deep concerns about how bereaved relatives have been treated in the aftermath of the June 12 crash. According to Neenan, Air India’s approach could potentially save the airline over £100 million by undercompensating affected families.
“This is where the true horror lies — in how families are being handled during their most vulnerable moments,” Neenan said. He has called for a formal investigation into the airline’s conduct.
Neenan described how families arriving to identify remains were placed in a cramped, overheated room alongside other grieving relatives. There, they were reportedly asked to complete complex paperwork, including a detailed questionnaire requesting financial information — all without prior notice, legal guidance, or access to copies of the documents.
Some families claim they were visited at home by airline staff, who questioned why the forms had not yet been submitted. According to Neenan, families were wrongly informed that no compensation would be paid unless the forms were completed — a claim that contradicts international aviation law, which requires airlines to make immediate advance payments to victims’ families upon proof of identity.
One grieving individual shared their experience: “We were asked to fill out forms in a stifling, overcrowded hallway with no privacy. The questions were vague, especially around dependency, and the whole process added to the trauma. It was made to seem like compensation depended entirely on completing these documents.”
In response, Air India has denied any wrongdoing, stating that they are treating the accusations with utmost seriousness. A spokesperson said, “We are committed to supporting the affected families and have made the process as straightforward as possible to ensure swift and accurate distribution of compensation.”
The airline added that it has already begun issuing interim compensation payments to assist families with immediate financial needs, with the first payments made just days after the incident.
Despite these claims, critics argue that the process lacked transparency, compassion, and proper legal safeguards — raising questions about the ethical responsibilities of airlines in crisis situations.
