Preliminary Report Into Crash Expected By 11 July

As the publication of the preliminary report into the cause of the Air India crash on 12 June 2025 approaches, specialist aviation lawyers at Irwin Mitchell advise families to tread carefully regarding compensation offers.

The crash of Air India Flight 171 on 12 June 2025 left 242 passengers and crew dead, along with many individuals on the ground. This included 53 Britons who were flying on the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.

A Channel 5 documentary broadcast on 2 July highlighted numerous unanswered questions regarding both Air India and Boeing's roles in the disaster.

It is now understood that the publication of the preliminary investigation report into the crash is expected by 11 July. This will be a crucial step toward understanding what led to the pilot making a distress call shortly before the plane crashed. It will include details about the aircraft, crew, airport conditions, and weather at the time of the incident.

In response to the tragedy, Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced financial gestures, including advance payments to the relatives of those who lost their lives.

There are also reports of families being asked to complete questionnaires detailing their financial dependence on the deceased, which may affect their eligibility for future payments.

Support and Advice

Irwin Mitchell’s aviation team has spoken to and advised families affected and says the report due on 11 July may begin to give some indication as to the cause of the crash.

The firm has represented many victims of other recent plane disasters, such as the Ethiopia Airways crash involving a Boeing 737 Max aircraft, which killed more than 150 people. Irwin Mitchell’s legal experts say it is also important that families are able to access independent legal advice before accepting payments from Air India to help them understand their rights and navigate the complex aftermath of this heartbreaking event.

Demetrius Danas, a specialist aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “This is a time of unimaginable loss. Although families don’t want to think about compensation, they are being asked to provide information and return documents without necessarily understanding the potential legal ramifications.

“Almost one month on, they’re still searching for answers, clarity, and justice. The role of lawyers is to ensure they are treated fairly and respectfully throughout this process and not pressured into accepting less than they are entitled to.

“We hope the preliminary crash report will provide some closure to those affected, as they seek to understand what went wrong. It is also crucial for identifying lessons to improve aviation safety in the future.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's aviation law expertise.