AI to send team to Mangalore to expedite compensation payment

"Air India will be positioning a team of officials, including lawyers, to Mangalore who will be assisting the survivors and relatives of the victims of the Air India Express flight IX 812 in their claims for compensation," a press release said here on Thursday.

The airline has already announced an interim compensation to the kith and kin of the deceased.

Air India Executive Director (Southern Region), Sunil Kishen, will be coordinating with the team. "The lawyers and officials will be there for at least two days," it said.

The Angels of Air India (a team of volunteers for any any emergency response) drawn from various sections of AI employees, are in Mangalore since the May 22 crash and assisting the survivors and relatives of the victims in all their requirements, the release said.

The airline has also arranged counselling sessions for the survivors and the relatives to get over the trauma, it said.

As many as 158 persons were killed the Air India Express Boeing plane from Dubai with 166 passengers and crew on board overshot the touchdown point during landing at the Bajpe airport in Mangalore, crashed down a cliff and burst into flames.