Air India Flight 171 Crash: Tata Group Pledges Rs 1 Crore Each for Families of Deceased

A catastrophic aviation disaster unfolded today when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of at least 204 people.

Tata Group, which reacquired Air India in 2022 after 69 years of government ownership, issued a heartfelt statement through Chairman N. Chandrasekaran. Expressing profound sorrow, the conglomerate pledged ₹1 crore (approximately $1.2 million USD) to the families of each victim and committed to covering all medical expenses for the injured.

Additionally, the Tata Group promised to support the reconstruction of the devastated B.J. Medical College hostel, a gesture aimed at aiding the affected medical community.

The plane, carrying 242 passengers and crew, veered off course and slammed into a residential area, tragically colliding with the undergraduate hostel of B.J. Medical College. The incident, one of the deadliest in recent Indian aviation history, has left the nation in shock and sparked urgent calls for accountability.

The flight, which included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, 1 Canadian, and 12 crew members, took off at approximately 2:00 PM local time. Eyewitnesses reported a sudden explosion and thick black smoke rising from the crash site near the Civil Hospital. Initial reports suggest a catastrophic takeoff failure, an exceedingly rare event for the Boeing 787-8, known for its advanced safety features.

As the death toll rises and rescue operations continue, the tragedy of Flight 171 serves as a grim reminder of aviation’s inherent risks. Tata Group’s substantial aid package reflects its ambition to restore Air India’s global reputation, but the road to recovery will be long for the families, the airline, and the medical community left in mourning.

Further updates are awaited as the nation grapples with this unimaginable loss…!!!

We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171.

No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured.

Tata Group will…

— Tata Group (@TataCompanies) June 12, 2025