Daijiworld Media Network – Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Jul 1: Legal teams from the US and UK are preparing to sue aircraft manufacturer Boeing over the devastating Air India crash that occurred in Ahmedabad last month, killing 241 out of 242 people on board a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
According to sources, the litigation is being spearheaded by UK-based Keystone Law partners James Healy-Pratt and Owen Hanna, alongside aviation law specialists from the US-based Wisner Law Firm. The legal teams are working closely with the families of crash victims to pursue justice under international aviation laws.
Healy-Pratt, who is involved in the investigation, confirmed to Economic Times that their team has been holding discussions with bereaved families in the UK over the past week. He said the team is closely reviewing available evidence and may file a lawsuit against Boeing in the US, in addition to pursuing legal action against Air India in the London High Court.
The lawsuits are expected to be filed separately from any support or compensation efforts by Tata Sons, which owns Air India. The airline had earlier announced an interim compensation of Rs 25 lac (approx. GBP 21,500) per victim, over and above the Rs 1 cr aid committed by Tata Sons.
The crash, which happened moments after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, claimed lives across multiple nationalities, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. Among those who perished were high-profile individuals such as former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and a teenage tea seller.
Legal experts note that courts in the US and UK are typically more supportive of passenger lawsuits, but jurisdictional complexities involving multinational entities may lead to delays.
Under the Montreal Convention of 1999, Air India is obligated to provide full compensation to the victims' families. The treaty governs international airline liability in the event of passenger death or injury.
Meanwhile, India’s minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated that the ongoing investigation is examining "all angles," including possible sabotage.
A detailed probe into the crash continues as legal action intensifies across jurisdictions.