India’s top insurance regulator has instructed all insurance and reinsurance companies to fast-track claim settlements for victims of the Air India Flight 171 crash, which occurred on June 12. The aircraft, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick Airport, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel shortly after takeoff.
242 Onboard: 230 Passengers and 12 Crew Members
The flight was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Following the incident, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued immediate guidelines to insurers to act quickly and compassionately.
Mandatory Overseas Health Insurance in Place
All passengers were required to have overseas health insurance as part of travel regulations. IRDAI has asked insurers to retrieve a verified list of victims from official sources and cross-check coverage against their own databases.
Claims Without FIRs or Post-Mortem Reports
To avoid unnecessary delays, IRDAI has specifically directed that insurers must not demand First Information Reports (FIRs) or post-mortem documents when processing claims. Compensation should be paid directly to the listed beneficiaries, especially in confirmed death cases, without procedural hurdles.
Joint Assistance Units at Hospitals
To support affected families, IRDAI has also ordered the setup of joint claims assistance cells at hospitals where victims were taken. These will be co-managed by the Life Insurance Council and the General Insurance Council and will serve as centralized help desks for insurance-related queries.
Senior Officers to Oversee Coordination
Each insurer must appoint a senior liaison officer to work closely with the joint assistance team. These officers will be responsible for ensuring quick and accurate claim settlements across all relevant cases.
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