The families of nine British victims of the June 12, 2025 AI 171 plane crash have launched legal action against Air India in the High Court in London.
A joint claim for personal injury and damages has been filed in the King’s Bench Division through their law firm. James Healy-Pratt, an aviation partner at Keystone Law, said High Court proceedings had been issued but not yet formally served, amid plans for confidential negotiations in London. He added that the families hoped the claims could be resolved through dialogue without the need for a trial.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. The aircraft lost height seconds after departure and burst into flames on impact with a medical college hostel, also killing 19 people on the ground.
Among those who died were Mariam Javed Ali Syed, 35, a Harrods brand ambassador, her husband Javed Ali Syed, 37, a hotel manager, and their children Zayn, six, and Amani, four. The family had travelled to India to celebrate Eid and care for Javed’s mother. A claim has been brought by the administrator of Mariam’s estate and two relatives.
Ramesh Hirani, 51, founder of Reset From Diabetes, was in India developing a wellness project. He is survived by his wife and three children, with the claim brought by his brother and mother. Ashok Patel, 74, and his wife Shobhanaben Patel, 71, who had lived in the UK since 1978, were returning from a spiritual pilgrimage. Their sons are pursuing legal action.
Ketan Kumar Shah Bharatbhai, 43, from Dorset, had travelled to India to see his ill father. His wife and two children are bringing a claim. Lawrence Christian, 30, who lived in London, was returning after performing his father’s last rites in Gujarat. His wife has filed the claim on his behalf.
Last July, Air India announced an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh to the families of all deceased passengers and to the sole survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh, to be offset against any final compensation. Ramesh, now back in Leicester, is represented by a different law firm and is not part of the London case. His spokesperson said his legal claim remains ongoing and that he is continuing rehabilitation.
Separately, the families of four passengers have filed a lawsuit in the United States against Boeing and Honeywell, alleging the crash was caused by faulty fuel switches. The case, filed in September, claims the manufacturers were responsible for the accident.
