‘Deeply saddened’: Noel Tata mourns Air India Flight 171 crash, extends condolences to families

Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata said he is deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving Air India Flight 171 on its journey from Ahmedabad to London and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving Air India Flight 171 on its journey from Ahmedabad to London. This heart-wrenching incident has brought immense grief to countless families, and our thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and stand in solidarity with them during this unimaginable time. We offer our prayers and support as they navigate this profound loss,” said Tata.

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said that the Tata group will provide ₹1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. "We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support," he said.

Additionally, the Tata group will provide support in the building up the B J Medical's hostel, which was damaged due to the plane crash.

"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," said Chandrasekara. "We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time," he added.

Air India flight AI 171, which crashed soon after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, marks the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has met with a deadly accident. The Boeing 787 aircraft involved in the crash was delivered in 2014. Boeing has sold over 2,500 787s, including 47 to Air India.

In a statement, Boeing said it is in contact with Air India regarding flight 171 and stands ready to support the airline. “Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected,” it said.

The engines on the crashed plane were supplied by GE Aerospace, which said it would support the investigation. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Air India Flight AI-171. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those impacted. We have activated our emergency response team, and we are prepared to support our customer and the investigation,” said GE Aerospace.

The Boeing 787 air crash comes weeks after the U.S. Justice Department tentatively agreed to a settlement with Boeing, sparing the company from facing criminal charges for allegedly deceiving federal regulators about its 737 Max aircraft prior to two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. Under the proposed agreement, Boeing agreed to pay $1.1 billion to avoid prosecution.

The payout agreement involves a payment of $444.5 million to compensate the families of victims who lost their lives in the 2018 and 2019 crashes involving 737 Max planes. As part of the deal, Boeing has also committed to allocating $445 million to enhance its compliance, safety, and quality systems.