Air India Crash Victim's Relative Expresses Regret Over Legal Waiver Signature
A doctor whose mother and infant son were injured in the devastating Air India crash last year has publicly expressed deep regret over signing a legal waiver that relinquished his family's right to pursue future claims against the airline and aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Dr. VC Geetha Krishna, a cancer specialist, now states he wants to return the approximately £6,500 compensation payment he received from Air India four months ago in exchange for regaining his legal rights.
Confidential Settlement Documents Reveal Air India's Strategy
Metro has obtained confidential documents revealing that Air India has been systematically offering cash settlements to victims' families under the condition that they sign an 'indemnity' document. This legal agreement requires families to "irrevocably and forever release" any right to sue or make claims against Air India, Boeing, the Indian government, and other entities connected to the June 12, 2025 crash that killed 260 people, including 52 British nationals.
The disaster occurred when flight AI171 crashed into a medical hostel in Ahmedabad, India, with only one passenger surviving the catastrophic incident. In the immediate aftermath, Air India pledged interim compensation payments of approximately £20,000 to relatives of those who died, while the airline's owner, Tata Group, committed to a separate voluntary payout of £85,000 per family along with coverage of medical expenses for the injured.
Doctor Claims Lack of Legal Understanding
Dr. Geetha Krishna, whose mother Vemulachedu Sridevi and then three-month-old son VC Yathaarth Naidu survived the crash but required hospital treatment, claims he didn't comprehend the legal implications when he signed the waiver. "I am not from a law background, I don't know about these laws," the doctor told Metro. "It is wrong. They took our rights."
The infant suffered inhalation injuries during the disaster, and his father reports the child has developed subsequent medical issues following hospital treatment. Dr. Geetha Krishna expressed particular frustration that the agreement with Air India also prevents him from pursuing claims against Boeing, stating: "It is Boeing's responsibility to also talk about these things. If there is a process, they need to explain it to us."
Legal Experts Condemn Premature Settlement Pressure
Ayush Dubey, case manager at Chionuma Law which represents 130 victims' families, strongly criticized Air India's approach. "We oppose this document," Dubey stated. "It asks families to give up all their legal rights against every party while the investigation is still ongoing. The full facts are not known yet, and it is not clear who is responsible."
Dubey emphasized the unfairness of pressuring families to sign away rights before investigations conclude, particularly noting that some injured victims remain under medical treatment. "Families should not be pressured to sign away their rights before the investigation is complete," he argued. "Any decision like this should only be made after the truth is known and families fully understand what they are giving up."
Multiple Lawsuits Already Filed Internationally
The Air India crash has already generated numerous lawsuits across multiple jurisdictions. Several families filed personal injury claims at the London High Court in December 2025, while families of four deceased passengers have initiated legal action against Boeing in United States courts.
Investigators continue to examine the cause of the disaster, with conflicting theories emerging about potential causes. While some sources have suggested deliberate pilot action moments before the crash, legal representatives for victims' families have pointed toward electrical failure as a more probable explanation.
Mike Andrews, a lawyer representing 130 families, dismissed pilot-related theories during a UK tour to meet with victims' relatives, calling such speculation "rank conjecture" that harms families' wait for definitive answers. "Families are desperate for answers to learn what happened, how it happened, why it happened," Andrews told Metro. "Every single person is begging for answers."
Air India Defends Compensation Process
In an official statement, Air India defended its compensation approach: "Following initial interim payments, we have ensured that the final amount offered to each family is fair and in accordance with the law, and information about this has been shared in a transparent, compassionate way."
The airline acknowledged that "monetary compensation cannot make up for the loss of a loved one" but emphasized that "getting more clarity about final compensation is an important moment for the families affected by this tragic incident."
Boeing declined to comment on the specific case, stating it was a legal matter relating to Air India. Metro has also approached the Indian government and Tata Group for additional comments regarding the settlement process and ongoing investigations.
The confidential document reviewed by Metro indicates that one family of a deceased victim was offered approximately £8,000 to sign the waiver, an amount that would be in addition to the £20,000 already paid by Air India and separate from Tata Group's £85,000 voluntary payout. This layered compensation structure has created complex legal dilemmas for grieving families still seeking answers about the tragedy that claimed their loved ones.
