Ahmedabad plane crash: Air India, Boeing may face ‘unlimited' liability if found negligent
or
Boeing
could be liable for 'unlimited' damages if found negligent under international aviation law, according to UK legal experts. While Air India holds $1.5 billion in liability insurance, reinsured through the London market, claims could exceed standard limits in such an event, they said.
The
Air India Boeing 787
plane that crashed in
Ahmedabad
on June 12, killed 241 people on board, including 12 crew, and 33 on the ground. Air India has already announced ₹1 crore each as compensation for those killed.
Under the Montreal Convention, the airline is presumed liable and needs to pay a prescribed minimum compensation of 151,800 special drawing rights (SDRs) — an International Monetary Fund-defined unit tied to a currency basket— for death or serious injury in a crash. With one SDR valued at about ₹120, that's as much as ₹1.82 crore per person.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You)
Container House | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
ET Bureau
This airline is liable for this base compensation, regardless of fault. Beyond this, if negligence is proven, additional compensation can be sought.
ALSO READ:
DGCA gives clean chit to Boeing 787 fleet, flags maintenance concerns at Air India
Live Events
Families of the victims may also file claims in their home countries, including the UK, where courts typically consider future earnings and personal circumstances. The passengers included 181 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.
Air India did not comment.
Complex, Long-winded Legalities
Boeing may also face unlimited liability if a fault with the 787 aircraft is discovered. Payouts could vary based on victims' nationality and income, the experts said.
If there is any evidence of faults with the Boeing 787, Boeing will also face unlimited liability, in the US and English courts, said James Healy-Pratt, aviation specialist on UK-based Keystone Law's international aviation legal team.
Keystone and Chicago-based Wisner Law Firm have commenced an independent investigation into the disaster. Wisner specialises in aviation-related litigation and also advised clients in the 2020 Air India Express crash.
Torts
Negligence-related claims are subject to the jurisdiction of UK courts under tort law, said Ashish Kumar Singh, cofounder and joint managing partner of Capstone Legal. Tort law covers injury or loss caused to a person. 'After adducing evidence, cross examination etc, the court can award compensation which is way beyond the insurance limits under the Montreal Convention,' he said. 'However, this exercise is a tedious one and involves complex questions of fact and law.'
'Air India is liable to the families for unlimited damages, unless they can prove they were not negligent, and only then can they limit their liability to 151,800 SDRs,' said Healy-Pratt. 'The legal presumption is that Air India is liable without limit until there is evidence that it can prove to the contrary.'
Air India has $1.5-billion insurance cover for widebody aircraft, which industry experts believe is sufficient to absorb payouts, though legal battles could push claims higher. 'Investigations can stretch for months to years and, in such cases, claims are settled in tranches — starting with initial compensation, followed by negotiated settlements or litigation outcomes,' said a senior insurance industry executive. 'Even after paying full SDR-based compensation and some additional settlements, the liability pool is not likely to be exhausted.'
However, people in the know said the $1.5-billion liability policy should be sufficient to cover even catastrophic events, unless there are multiple large-scale claims in a single year. 'The liability on the operator, Air India, will have multiple angles — the nationality of the passengers on board will define the minimum liability that is applicable to the operator as per the Montreal Convention,' said Hitesh Girotra, vice president, aviation and specialty lines, Prudent Insurance Brokers. 'Since the aircraft crashed into a residential apartment, there is third-party property damage liability on the operator.'
In 2010, ₹7.6 crore was awarded to the family of a passenger in the Air India Express crash at Mangalore airport that killed 158 people. 'No amount of money can ever compensate families who have lost loved ones, but our international team will be seeking the fullest compensation from all potentially responsible parties,' said Healy-Pratt.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Taurus Daily Horoscope Today, August 18, 2025: A rival may be watching your every move
Today brings joyful energy that grows when shared with others. Small moments of happiness will feel even better when expressed with loved ones. Avoid isolating yourself, as connecting with people will lift your spirits. You may receive appreciation for your efforts, which strengthens bonds. Stay open to giving and receiving kindness. This is a day to enjoy simple pleasures and create sweet memories. Sharing your joys will not only make you happy but also bring smiles to many faces. Taurus Love Horoscope Today In love, sharing happiness with your partner will deepen the relationship. If you are in a relationship, plan something fun or heartfelt together. Express appreciation and celebrate small joys as a couple. For singles, spending time with friends or loved ones increases your chances of meeting someone special. Positive energy attracts love naturally. Do not hold back emotions; instead, share them freely. Love today grows beautifully when filled with warmth, laughter, and the willingness to make each other happy. Taurus Career Horoscope Today Career life today shines when you share ideas and work as a team. Helping colleagues or offering support will create goodwill and open new opportunities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Mixed Pink Salt With This - Now She Can't Stop Losing Weight Break The Weight Learn More Undo Avoid keeping your thoughts to yourself; your contributions can inspire others. Seniors may value your cooperative attitude. Stay cheerful and handle tasks with positivity. Avoid stress by focusing on solutions rather than problems. When you share knowledge and joy at work, success comes more easily. This teamwork spirit will bring recognition and progress. Taurus Money Horoscope Today Finances today benefit from generosity balanced with caution. Sharing your resources with loved ones brings emotional satisfaction, but avoid overspending. If someone needs support, help only within your limits. Investments should be made with care, and sharing ideas with someone experienced can guide you. Enjoy spending on meaningful things rather than wasteful items. When you balance giving and saving, your finances stay healthy. The joy of sharing brings positive energy that also attracts financial blessings in the future. Taurus Health Horoscope Today Health feels better when you share positive energy with others. Spending time with loved ones lifts your mood and reduces stress. Avoid overworking, as it may cause fatigue. Light physical activities with friends or family, like walking together, will refresh you. Share healthy habits, like eating nutritious meals, with those around you to stay motivated. Laughter and happy conversations also boost immunity. When you share joy and positivity, your body and mind become stronger, leading to overall well-being. Discover everything about astrology at Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces . Read your detailed Horoscope Today and Horoscope Tomorrow here.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
AKTU to award 50K degrees using blockchain technology
Lucknow: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University will award around 50,000 degrees to engineering and management graduates and postgraduates using blockchain technology during the convocation ceremony on Sept 9. This is the first time ever that the university has adopted blockchain technology, as it offers several benefits for degree issuance and verification, primarily focused on security, efficiency, and transparency. According to AKTU's assistant registrar Ayush Srivastava, a decision was taken as it provides a tamper-proof, decentralised system for storing and verifying academic credentials, streamlining the process for students, educational institutions, and employers. AKTU will be awarding around 75 gold, silver, and bronze medals to its meritorious students during the convocation ceremony. The medal list has already been declared, and objections to the declared merit list have been invited until Tuesday. Thereafter, the final merit list will be declared. Also, the university will give a cash award to the Chancellor Gold Medal and in other categories. "This digital system creates and validates academic credentials through a secure computerised database, ensuring authenticity and preventing unauthorised alterations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Blockchain provides a reliable method for issuing and managing digital credentials. This system eliminates possibilities of errors or manipulations in university documents. Students will have the ability to print their digital degrees as needed," said vice chancellor JP Pandey. He said cases of fraud in degree mark sheets often come to the fore in many universities. In view of this and further upgrading its technology, the university administration has now decided to use blockchain technology. Our mark sheets too will be issued using the technology. Pandey further explained that student examination and result information will be distributed across multiple servers. The university will compile degree mark sheets using roll numbers and other unique identifiers. The system's security ensures that data remains protected even if individual servers face security breaches or disruptions. |Students will receive login credentials to access and print their degree mark sheets as required. Blockchain enhances degree and mark sheet security through immutability, transparency, and decentralised verification, making it difficult to forge or alter records once they are recorded on the blockchain," said the VC. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
7 of 47 projects incomplete, Smart City shift to NMC begins
Nagpur: Of the 47 projects implemented under the Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL), seven remain incomplete as the agency prepares to wind up operations and transfer all assets to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) by December 31, 2025. Nagpur, selected under the Centre's Smart Cities Mission in 2016, was initially expected to complete its projects by June 2021. The deadline was extended to June 2023, then June 2024, and finally to December 2025. Under the mission, NSSCDCL received Rs741.63 crore from the central govt, with projects divided into two key components: Rs524 crore Smart and Safe City Project which introduced 17 smart solutions including CCTV surveillance, an integrated command and control centre, and traffic monitoring systems; and the Rs741.62 crore area-based development (ABD) plan to revamp 1,743 acres in Pardi, Bharatwada, Bhandewadi and Punapur in East Nagpur. Funding was further boosted by then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who sanctioned Rs400 crore from the state govt for Smart and Safe City, while Rs124 crore came from the central Smart Cities fund. Of the seven incomplete projects, six are in progress — mostly road works — while one, meant to rehabilitate brick kiln families, has stalled due to the Nagpur Improvement Trust's refusal to issue a No Objection Certificate for the land parcel identified for relocation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The handover process for 39 completed projects is already under way. Additional municipal commissioner Vasumana Pant told TOI that the process to hand over projects, including the smart solutions component with 3,698 CCTV cameras installed across the city has already commenced. NMC has already entrusted KELTRON with the operation and maintenance of CCTV cameras for a period of five years. "NMC will pay Rs 25 crore per annum to the Kerala state-based firm for this purpose," Pant said. A decision is still pending on the robotics scavenger project, a mechanised drain-cleaning system, for which a seven-year operation and maintenance contract is proposed. While the CCTV network has proved vital for crime detection, traffic regulation and flood monitoring, other Smart City assets have fared poorly. The 65 smart kiosks installed in 2018 to provide citizens one-stop access to civic, state and central govt services remain non-functional due to the absence of integration with key departments. Despite having IT professionals, the NSSCDCL failed to ensure that these kiosks remain operational. Now these kiosks, installed with taxpayers' money, are lying defunct. Once the handover is complete, NMC will take on the responsibility for operating, maintaining, and monetising the entire Smart City infrastructure. With manpower shortages and financial constraints already weighing heavily on the civic body, experts warn that without proper planning, high-value assets could meet the same fate as the smart kiosks. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
