Tata Group Establishes ₹500 Crore Trust for Air India AI-171 Crash Victims
In a significant humanitarian commitment, the Tata Group today announced the formal establishment of "The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust." This public charitable trust, endowed with a corpus of ₹500 crore (approximately $60 million USD), is dedicated to providing comprehensive and ongoing support to the victims and those profoundly affected by the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The disaster claimed 260 lives, including 241 onboard (229 passengers and 12 crew) and 19 people on the ground.
Key Details and Purpose of the Trust:
Substantial Funding: The ₹500 crore fund is a joint contribution, with Tata Sons and Tata Trusts each pledging ₹250 crore. This initiative marks one of the largest corporate relief efforts in India's recent history for a single incident.
Broad Scope of Support: The Trust is designed to offer both immediate and long-term assistance to:
Dependents and next-of-kin of the deceased.
Individuals who sustained injuries in the crash.
Anyone else directly or indirectly affected by the accident.
First responders, medical and disaster relief professionals, social workers, and government staff who provided invaluable assistance in the aftermath of the crash, including support for any trauma or distress experienced.
Key Provisions:
Ex-gratia Payments: The Trust will provide an ex-gratia payment of ₹1 crore (approximately $120,000 USD) to the families of each deceased victim. These payments are explicitly stated to be in addition to any compensation legally due from Air India.
Medical Treatment: Full medical treatment will be covered for those who suffered serious injuries.
Infrastructure Rebuilding: Significant support will be provided for rebuilding the B.J. Medical College Hostel, which was severely damaged when the aircraft crashed into the building.
Long-term Assistance: The trust is structured to offer sustained support, potentially including assistance for children's education and daily living costs, although specific long-term aid plans are still being finalized.
Administration and Commencement: "The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust" has been formally registered in Mumbai as a public charitable trust. It will be managed and administered by a five-member Board of Trustees. The initial two appointed trustees are S. Padmanabhan, a former Tata veteran, and Sidharth Sharma, General Counsel at Tata Sons. The remaining three trustees will be appointed shortly. The Trust is expected to commence its full operations once necessary registrations with tax authorities and other operational formalities are completed.
Context of the Tragic Crash:
Air India Flight AI-171, a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), tragically crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025. The aircraft lifted off at 13:38:39 IST (08:08:39 UTC) and lost altitude, impacting a neighborhood southwest of the airport, specifically hitting the residential quarters of B.J. Medical College. This incident has been described as one of India's worst aviation tragedies in recent years and the first hull loss for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
A preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released on July 12, 2025, indicated that the crash was caused by both engines losing thrust after their fuel control switches moved from the "run" to "cutoff" position, just three seconds after becoming airborne. The cockpit voice recording reportedly captured one pilot asking, "Why did you cut off?" and the other responding, "I did not." The cause of this crucial switch movement, whether inadvertent, mechanical, or deliberate, remains under intense investigation. Air India has since conducted precautionary inspections on the fuel control switches of all its Boeing 787 aircraft and reported finding no issues.
The establishment of this substantial welfare trust underscores the Tata Group's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to supporting those profoundly impacted by this devastating event, as the nation awaits the final, comprehensive report on the crash cause.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
