241 people lost their lives. One miraculously survived. And still, no one has taken full responsibility.

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI‑171—a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated under Tata Group’s flagship—crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The tragedy claimed not only lives onboard but also innocent civilians on the ground. This is not just a technical failure. It’s a systemic legal and regulatory collapse.

As a Supreme Court Advocate, I find this not just heartbreaking, but legally disturbing.

⚖️ Legal Dimensions That Demand Urgency
1. Airline Accountability – Tata Group (Air India)
Air India has been rebranded and privatized, but the duty of care remains the same.
Were maintenance logs up-to-date?
Was crew training in compliance with global aviation norms?
Did management ignore internal safety warnings, if any?
If there's negligence in operation or maintenance, Air India could face both civil and criminal liability under Indian law and international conventions.

2. Manufacturer Liability – Boeing Again?
Let’s not forget—Boeing is already under scrutiny globally due to its 737 MAX crashes.
Now, if evidence shows that a design flaw or known manufacturing issue caused the crash, then under the Product Liability Law and Tort principles, Boeing can be prosecuted in India and in U.S. courts under cross-border aviation laws.
How many times will we let corporate giants buy silence with settlements?

3. Regulatory Lapses – DGCA & MoCA
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the watchdog of Indian skies. But watchdogs that don’t bark—or bite—fail the very people they are meant to protect.

Were there prior red flags about this aircraft?
What level of regulatory oversight is in place for post-privatization Air India?
Why did clearance continue despite engine irregularities reported in recent flights?
These questions must now be asked in public forums and courtrooms, not just closed-door government meetings.

4. Compensation Under Law
Under the Montreal Convention (1999) and Indian Aviation Law:
Passengers’ families are entitled to compensation up to approx ₹1.25 crore each (128,000 SDR).
Ground fatalities must also be compensated—though Indian law has no clear fast-track for such claims.
The government and courts must now act swiftly to ensure immediate, fair and automatic disbursements, not decade-long litigation.

🛑 The Problem is Bigger Than One Crash We need to stop treating every crash as an “accident” and start seeing them as symptoms of a failing legal framework.

India needs an Aviation Safety Tribunal, fast-track and autonomous.
We must push for criminal accountability, not just insurance payouts.
Global manufacturers like Boeing must no longer get VIP treatment in Indian investigations.

🧑‍⚖️ Final Thought:
This isn’t about politics. It’s about law, life, and justice.
If 241 lives can't trigger a legal reckoning in our aviation sector, what will?

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