Air India Flight 171: Supporting families seeking answers, accountability and fair compensation.
We are working in association with leading US aviation lawyer Mike Andrews of Beasley Allen Law Firm and barrister Jerome Silva of 4KBW chambers in London to help families understand their rights, protect their position and secure fair compensation following this tragedy.
The loss of a loved one in an air disaster is one of the most devastating experiences a family can face. In the weeks and months that follow, families are often left navigating a complex mixture of grief, uncertainty, and practical concerns.
Questions naturally arise about what happened, how the investigation is progressing, what compensation may be available, whether documents should be signed, and how the family’s financial future will be protected.
Our lawyers understand that no amount of compensation can ever replace a loved one. However, obtaining answers, accountability, and proper financial support can play an important role in helping families rebuild their lives.
Our role is to provide clear legal advice, practical support, and expert legal representation throughout that process.
A Team Built Around Families
One of the reasons Slee Blackwell has become involved in Air India Flight 171 is our expertise in representing bereaved families following fatal accidents.
While Air India Flight 171 is an aviation disaster, at its heart it is also a fatal accident case involving families who have lost husbands, wives, parents, children, and loved ones.
Many aviation firms understandably focus on aircraft systems, investigations, and aviation regulations. Those issues are important. However, for most families, the immediate concern is much more personal:
- How will the family cope financially?
- What compensation may be available?
- How are children protected?
- What happens if the deceased was supporting relatives?
- What documents need to be preserved?
- Should interim compensation be accepted?
- What rights might be affected by signing settlement documents?
These are the sort of issues our lawyers deal with every day.
Our personal injury and fatal accident department has a national reputation. It is headed by James McNally, DASLS Solicitor of the Year 2024 and Vice President of the Devon & Somerset Law Society for 2026/27.
We are an award-winning firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, recommended by both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, accredited by the Law Society under the Lexcel quality standard, and independently rated 5 stars on ReviewSolicitors.
Fatal Accident Law
Compensation following a fatal accident is rarely a simple calculation.
The law recognises that family members often depend on the deceased in many different ways. In addition to employment income, a loved one may have provided childcare, household support, care for elderly relatives, pension benefits, business income, practical assistance, and financial support to family members both in the UK and overseas.
For many families affected by Air India Flight 171, the most significant aspect of any claim is likely to be the dependency claim.
A dependency claim looks beyond immediate losses and considers what support the deceased would have provided throughout their lifetime.
This can include:
- Loss of future earnings;
- Pension losses;
- Children’s dependency claims;
- Spousal dependency claims;
- Care and services provided by the deceased;
- Financial support for relatives;
- Educational support;
- Household contributions; and
- Long-term financial security.
This is where our expertise is particularly valuable.
While aviation law determines how claims are brought, it is often the careful investigation and valuation of dependency losses that determines whether families receive the compensation they genuinely need. Our experience in accident litigation enables us to identify and properly value these losses so that compensation reflects the true impact of the family’s loss.
The Current Position
The official investigation into Air India Flight 171 remains ongoing.
As with any major aviation disaster, investigators continue to analyse technical evidence, operational information and flight recorder data in order to understand exactly what happened and identify any lessons that may improve aviation safety in the future.
Families understandably want answers. However, it is important to distinguish between confirmed findings and speculation.
Our approach is to rely on official information and established evidence rather than assumptions. We continue to monitor developments closely and assist families in understanding what investigation findings may mean for their legal rights.
Importantly, families do not need to wait for the final investigation report before obtaining legal advice.
Interim Payments and Compensation
Many families have already received information regarding interim compensation arrangements and other financial support measures.
While such payments can provide important immediate help, it is vital that families understand the distinction between:
- Interim payments;
- Ex gratia payments;
- Compensation offers;
- Settlement agreements; and
- Documents that may affect future legal rights.
Before signing any document, families should ensure they understand precisely what it means and whether it could affect future claims.
We can assist families in reviewing compensation documentation, understanding their options, and ensuring that important legal rights are protected before decisions are made.
International Aviation Claims
Claims arising from international air travel are often governed by the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that regulates liability and compensation in international aviation cases.
These claims can involve complex questions relating to:
- Jurisdiction;
- Compensation;
- Time limits;
- Airline liability; and
- International legal procedures.
Each family’s circumstances must be assessed individually. The appropriate jurisdiction and legal strategy will depend on the particular facts of each case.
Our team is currently reviewing jurisdiction issues under the Montreal Convention and advising families on whether claims can potentially be brought within the legal jurisdiction of England and Wales.
Meet the Air India Flight 171 Team
Slee Blackwell’s Air India Flight 171 team has been assembled to provide families with access to specialist advice across all aspects of the claims process.
The team is led by Carly Sylvester, Partner at Slee Blackwell Solicitors, whose work focuses on helping bereaved families secure fair compensation and long-term financial security following fatal accidents. Carly advises on dependency claims, children’s claims, compensation assessments and the practical issues families face following a catastrophic loss.
She is working alongside Mike Andrews of Beasley Allen, a leading US aviation and product liability lawyer who has extensive experience representing families following major aviation disasters and is actively involved in matters arising from Air India Flight 171.
The team is also supported by Jerome Silva of 4KBW, an experienced barrister specialising in aviation law, fatal accident claims, jurisdiction issues and complex international litigation.
Together, the team combines expertise in fatal accident litigation, dependency claims, international aviation law and specialist counsel support to ensure that families receive comprehensive advice tailored to their individual circumstances.
Why Families Trust Slee Blackwell
Families affected by Air India Flight 171 are not simply looking for aviation lawyers.
They are looking for people who will listen carefully, explain matters clearly, provide honest advice, protect their interests and help safeguard their family’s future.
Our focus is on helping families obtain:
- Answers;
- Accountability;
- Fair compensation; and
- Long-term financial security.
By combining our expertise in accident litigation with specialist aviation support and experienced counsel, we are able to provide a comprehensive service tailored to the needs of families affected by this tragedy.
Above all, we recognise that behind every claim is a family trying to rebuild their lives after an unimaginable loss. Our role is to guide them through that process with care, sensitivity, and expert legal support.
