Keystone Law’s international aviation legal team commences an investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash en-route to London Gatwick Airport on 12 June 2025. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft was carrying 242 passengers, including 53 Britons when it crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat. It is reported that there is one survivor. An investigation is now underway to uncover what caused the crash. The US made Boeing 787 was powered by two US made General Electric GEnx jet engines.

With over 33 years of international aviation legal experience, James Healy-Pratt and Owen Hanna have independently investigated hundreds of aviation accidents and recovered over US$1bn in settlements. They are jointly investigating this accident in conjunction with the specialist US aviation firm, The Wisner Law Firm in Chicago, Illinois. Together this team have also assisted passengers and families in many Boeing mass fatality airliner accidents, including Kenya Airways, Garuda Airlines, Lion Air, Ethiopian Airlines, and Malaysian Airlines (MH17 & MH370).

James Healy-Pratt said:

“The priority now is for the recovery and identification of all those who died in this accident, so that they can be returned to their loved ones. For the British nationals on board AI171, their remains will then be repatriated to the UK.

“We expect the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office to engage the UK Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team and send them to India to assist with that task. Once repatriated to the UK, one of His Majesty’s Senior Coroners will commence an investigation into the causes of the deaths, and open Inquests for them.

“British families should be mindful that cremated remains repatriated to the UK do not automatically result in a Coroner’s Inquest. This is because cremated ashes do not constitute a body under Coronial law. This has been an issue we have experienced in previous overseas aviation accidents with British families. Concerned families should seek urgent advice before any decision is made in relation to cremation in India.”

For more detailed information on the aviation investigation and litigation process, please read their article here. 

If you have questions or wish to speak to James or Owen confidentially for assistance, please contact James Healy-Pratt or Owen Hanna.

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