UK’s Keystone Law has launched a separate legal investigation into the Air India AI-171 crash that killed 241 people, urging families not to cremate bodies before legal consultation. The probe focuses on justice and possible civil claims under UK law.
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ENGLAND: After the sad crash of Air India Flight AI-171, a British law firm named Keystone Law has started its own independent legal investigation. This tragic accident took 241 lives, including 53 British citizens.
While India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is already doing an official inquiry with help from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB-UK), this separate legal probe is focusing more on justice for families, especially those living in the UK.
The accident happened on Thursday, June 12, when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner going to London crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane was powered by two General Electric engines. Now, this case has become part of a major international technical and forensic investigation.
While the governments look into what exactly caused the crash, many grieving families have started looking for legal help and justice.
Ashish K Singh, the Managing Partner of Capstone Legal, clearly explained that Keystone Law’s inquiry is totally independent from the UK government’s probe.
He said,
“Keystone is exploring potential civil liability, including tort-based claims under UK law against entities such as Boeing and Air India,”
and added,
“This is not a government probe but it is about accountability and justice.”
The legal team leading this investigation includes well-known aviation law experts James Healy-Pratt and Owen Hannah from Keystone Law. They are also working with the experienced Wisner Law Firm from Chicago, which has a strong background in aviation cases.
Wisner Law Firm had earlier supported families of victims in the 2020 Kozhikode crash, where an Air India Express flight overran the runway and killed 21 people after falling into a gorge.
Keystone Law has also shared an important legal message for families of the victims. The firm has asked them not to cremate or bury the bodies without talking to legal advisors first.
This warning is based on UK laws, especially those under Coronial Jurisdiction, which say that once a body is cremated, it is no longer possible to conduct a proper legal investigation.
James Healy-Pratt said,
“There is an urgent need for identification and repatriation of bodies,”
and further explained,
“A UK coroner will only be able to open a proper inquest if the body remains intact.”
He also added,
“Once cremated, it becomes legally and forensically impossible to determine the cause of death for legal proceedings.”
Because of this, the law firm is advising families to wait before organizing funerals and immediately consult legal experts. If a body is cremated too soon, it might block any legal claims in future, as it removes key evidence that courts need.
This accident is also expected to lead to huge insurance and reinsurance claims, both in India and globally. According to Satyendra Srivastava, co-founder of Consortia Legal, families of British victims may go to UK courts to ask for compensation.
He said,
“Insurance companies will not only have to cover the total loss of the aircraft but also pay out for passenger deaths, injuries, and third-party property damage.”
These claims might spread across countries and legal systems, making the process more difficult.
Pritha Jha, a partner at Pioneer Legal, also said that the families have a very important role in what happens next. She explained that if the families go ahead with cremation, they may lose their right to ask for a legal investigation.
She stated,
“If cremation is carried out, that decision is taken away from them, because it closes the door to legal enquiry.”
Meanwhile, Tata Group, which owns Air India, has already promised financial help for the families of those who died. But legal experts believe that this is only the first step in what could be a long and complicated international legal battle.
Big companies like Boeing, Air India, and major insurance firms could all become part of this case, while grieving families continue their fight for justice and truth.
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