Air India Faces Allegations of Pressuring Grieving Families to Shield Boeing and GE from Legal Action
In a controversial move, Air India is reportedly asking grieving families and injured victims of the tragic Ahmedabad air crash to sign documents that would protect Boeing, General Electric, and other companies from any future legal action. This claim comes from the US-based Chionuma Law Firm, which represents over 100 victim families affected by the June 12, 2025 disaster that claimed 260 lives—241 on board and the rest on the ground—and left 67 seriously injured.
Monetary Settlements Offered in Exchange for Legal Rights
According to Ayush Dubey, case manager at the Kansas-based Chionuma Law Firm, Air India is offering cash settlements to families if they agree to forgo their right to file legal cases against the airline, aircraft manufacturer Boeing, engine manufacturer General Electric, and several other entities. "Within the last seven days, one family was offered Rs 35 lakh, including Rs 25 lakh previously paid by Air India as interim compensation, as the final settlement," Dubey stated. "We asked them not to sign. We oppose this document. It asks grieving families to give up all their legal rights while the investigation is still ongoing. The full truth is not known yet, and it is still unclear who is responsible."
Families Report Signing Without Full Understanding
In a distressing example, a medical student in Ahmedabad signed the document as guardian of his two-and-a-half-month-old son in exchange for Rs 3 lakh, while his mother-in-law received Rs 5 lakh to sign. "My mother-in-law and son exited the building impacted by the crash without major injuries, but she suffers from post-trauma anxiety, while our son has breathing issues," he explained. "My wife and I had our final year exams round the corner and were grateful that our family survived. We did not know we were giving up all our legal rights and that Boeing was also being absolved when we signed the document in Oct-Nov." Ahmedabad-based journalist Kuldip Ishrani, who facilitated the interaction, noted that scores of families have been contacted by the airline to sign similar documents.
Legal Concerns Over Jurisdiction and Ongoing Investigations
Dubey highlighted that the most troubling aspect is Air India's attempt to block families from filing cases in more favorable jurisdictions against the plane manufacturer. One clause in the indemnity document reads: "We the releasors agree that all the indemnities contained herein shall remain fully binding, effective and enforceable irrespective of the forum, place, country or jurisdiction in which any such claim demand, action or proceeding is brought or pursued." The Chionuma Law Firm is preparing a class action suit against Boeing and others, believing the accident was caused by electrical failure rather than pilot error. Meanwhile, in London, several victim families have filed a personal injury lawsuit at the London High Court, and some are also suing Boeing in the US, alleging faulty fuel switches.
Criticism from Legal Experts and Pilots
Pilots view this as another effort to shield aircraft and system manufacturers—including Boeing, General Electric, GE Aerospace, Safran SA, Safran Electronics & Defense, Avionics USA LLC, and Honeywell International Inc—and shift blame onto pilots who cannot defend themselves. Dubey emphasized the unfairness of the situation: "Some injured families are still receiving medical treatment. Their recovery is not finished, and they do not yet understand how much more money may be needed to fully heal. Even then, they are being asked to give up all future claims. This is unfair. Families should not be pressured to sign away their rights before the investigation is complete. A decision this serious should only be made after the full facts are known and families clearly understand what they are giving up."
Recent Incidents and Airline's Silence
Earlier this month, Air India grounded a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner following a pilot report about a fuel control switch during a flight from London to Bengaluru. The aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad was also a Dreamliner. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) later stated that the issue was due to incorrect handling of the switch, not a mechanical fault. When contacted for comment on why Boeing and GE are included in the indemnity sought from victim families while investigations are ongoing, Air India had not responded by the time of publication.
