Have 65 Families from India and the UK Hired a US Law Firm Following the Air India Crash?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 65 families affected by the Air India crash are seeking justice.
- They have hired Beasley Allen, a US law firm, for legal representation.
- The firm’s lead attorney emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability.
- Families may explore a product liability claim in the US.
- The crash resulted in a tragic loss of 241 lives on board and 19 on the ground.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (NationPress) A prominent US law firm, Beasley Allen, has been retained by a minimum of 65 families from India and the UK who are mourning the loss of their loved ones in the devastating June 12 Air India crash, aiming to explore legal avenues, potentially in US courts.
The firm’s leading aviation attorney, Mike Andrews, met with numerous grieving families at the crash site in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad before proceeding to Vadodara.
Andrews expressed to the media on Friday that these families are desperate for justice, answers, and transparency surrounding the events of this tragic incident.
“Many of these families are eager to understand what transpired, why it occurred, and what legal options they may have,” stated Andrews.
He noted that a significant number of the 65 families represented are from Gujarat and the Union Territory of Diu, with many being British citizens of Indian origin.
Depending on the direction of the ongoing investigation, Andrews mentioned that the families might pursue a product liability claim in the US.
“We anticipate these cases could be filed in a US federal court if Boeing is found liable,” he emphasized, highlighting that the US possesses stronger frameworks for corporate accountability through its product liability laws.
To facilitate independent evaluations, he urged the Indian government to promptly release the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder information.
His team has visited the crash site, capturing images and interviewing witnesses.
The scale of the devastation is staggering, he noted.
Shortly after departing from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, was en route to London Gatwick when it tragically crashed.
A total of 241 of the 242 individuals onboard and 19 people on the ground, including medical students, lost their lives as the aircraft collided with a medical college hostel in Meghaninagar and caught fire.