Tata Sons has pledged ₹500 crore to establish the AI171 Trust, a welfare foundation designed to aid families affected by the crash of Air India Flight 171. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner went down on 12 June shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in India this century.
Board approval for the trust was secured during a meeting chaired by N. Chandrasekaran, who outlined the fund’s comprehensive scope. “It’s not just about financial support, but long‑term care,” Mr Chandrasekaran stated, emphasising the intention to provide sustained assistance. The trust is expected to benefit both Indian and foreign nationals affected by the tragedy.
In addition to the ₹500 crore endowment, Tata Sons and Air India have reaffirmed earlier announcements that each deceased victim’s family will receive ₹1 crore, and that ongoing medical care costs for the injured will be fully borne by the group. The fund will be allocated for immediate relief, long-term financial aid, educational support for children, and healthcare for survivors and families.
The trust’s governance framework will involve external trustees to ensure transparency. Group CFO PB Balaji and nominees from Tata Trusts—including Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh—will oversee its establishment. Plans also include funding to rebuild the B J Medical College hostel, which was damaged in the crash.
The crash of AI171 resulted in 241 fatalities onboard—including passengers and crew—and 19 deaths on the ground, with a solitary survivor from seat 11A. The majority of those aboard were Indian nationals, alongside British, Portuguese and Canadian citizens.
Since the tragedy, Chandrasekaran has taken direct command of Air India’s crisis response, fronting relief efforts and coordinating with CEO Campbell Wilson, who has led ongoing safety audits in consultation with DGCA and AAIB.
Meanwhile, investigations into the crash are being conducted by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with technical help from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the US NTSB. Initial findings suggest engine performance was unaffected, with no prior warnings noted, though potential mechanical or procedural causes are still being scrutinised.
Tata Sons reported that the AI‑171 Trust will support not only families of the 271 victims but also employees, local residents affected by the crash, and those using facilities at the hostel site. The foundation echoes earlier group responses to crises, such as the post‑26/11 terror attack initiative that provided long-term aid to hotel staff and families.
With the ₹500 crore allocation, the trust fund stands among the largest single‑company relief commitments in India’s corporate history. The corpus aims to cover immediate rehabilitation costs while establishing dedicated provisions to address healthcare, education, mental health support and living expenses for impacted families.
Governance for the trust will include individuals unaffiliated with the Tata Group to ensure oversight and compliance with both domestic and international legal obligations, particularly in respect of foreign nationals.
The AI171 Trust marks a key step in Tata’s broader aviation safety and resilience strategy. Alongside structural reforms, it seeks to reinforce public confidence in Air India, essential as the airline revitalises its global operations following significant investments by Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines since their merger in 2024–25.
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