The International Council of Jurists (ICJ) Demands £200,000 per fatality.

New Delhi, June 15, 2025 — The International Council of Jurists (ICJ) has formally petitioned the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to launch an independent investigation and initiate sweeping reforms following the deadly Air India Boeing incident in Ahmedabad on June 12. The jurists have also called for immediate compensation of no less than £200,000 for the family of each deceased.

In a detailed representation sent to ICAO President Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano and Secretary General Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, ICJ President Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala urged the global aviation watchdog to act decisively in light of what it described as “glaring vulnerabilities in the chain of oversight, maintenance, and operational accountability.”

*Acknowledgment of India’s Swift Response*

Dr. Aggarwala, who is also former President of Supreme Court Bar Association and Vice-Chairman of Bar Council of India, commended the Indian government for its quick response to the tragedy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership during the crisis was lauded as “decisive,” while Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were credited for their coordinated efforts in managing emergency operations, ensuring medical care, and minimizing chaos in the aftermath.

However, the jurists emphasized that the broader responsibility now rests with the ICAO under the framework of the Chicago Convention, which governs global civil aviation safety standards.

*Demand for ICAO-Led Investigation and Boeing’s Accountability*

The representation notes early findings that suggest “serious lapses in maintenance and systemic non-compliance with international safety norms” by both the airline and the manufacturer. To that end, the ICJ has urged ICAO to: (1) Deploy independent representatives to join India’s investigation; (2) Ensure full cooperation and accountability from Boeing; (3) Oversee a transparent and impartial inquiry; and (4) Publicly release a fact-based final report.

The Council also requested that Boeing and Air India be directed to provide timely and equitable compensation to affected families — amounting to at least £200,000 per fatality.

*Call for Structural Reforms in Global Aviation*

Beyond immediate accountability, the ICJ has urged ICAO to adopt long-term structural reforms, including ((1) Mandatory re-certification of commercial aircraft beyond a certain operational age; (2) Periodic independent inspections by ICAO-accredited auditors; (3) A global safety grading index for airlines and manufacturers; (4) Strict enforcement of safety directives, maintenance checks, and recall obligations.

One of the most significant proposals includes the creation of a public aircraft audit registry to give passengers real-time access to aircraft safety data during ticket booking — promoting transparency and ethical corporate behavior.

*Legal Basis for ICAO Action*

The representation cites ICAO’s mandate under Annex 13, Annex 6, Annex 19, and Articles 37 and 38 of the Chicago Convention as the legal basis for immediate intervention and reform. These provisions empower ICAO to enforce international standards, oversee accident investigations, and mandate safety compliance across jurisdictions.

*Commitment to Justice and Global Aviation Safety*

“The time for institutional complacency is over,” the representation states, stressing the need for enforceable changes that would elevate civil aviation standards globally. The ICJ reaffirmed its commitment to work with ICAO on legal and policy matters and urged the organization to act “swiftly and seriously” to protect lives and restore public trust in international aviation.

*(Dr. Adish C Aggarwala)*
President, International Council of Jurists
Mobile : +(44) 7417524900; +(91) 9958177904

15.6.2025

Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano,
President,
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Montréal, Quebec H3C 5H7 (Canada)
Email : icaohq@icao.int

Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar,
Secretary General,
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Montréal, Quebec H3C 5H7 (Canada)
Email : icaohq@icao.int

SUBJECT: REPRESENTATION SEEKING POLICY INTERVENTION, *ACCOUNTABILITY, REGULATORY REFORMS AND COMPENSATION OF £200,000 PER DEATH IN THE WAKE OF THE AIR INDIA BOEING INCIDENT IN AHMEDABAD ON 12.6.2025*

Dear Mr. President and Mr. Secretary General of ICAO,

On behalf of the International Council of Jurists, an international body dedicated to the promotion of rule of law and good governance, we place this representation before you, concerning the Air India Boeing aircraft incident that occurred in Ahmedabad (India) on 12.6.2025. This tragic event, which resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, has gravely shaken public confidence in global aviation safety standards and exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the chain of oversight, maintenance, and operational accountability.

We take this opportunity to acknowledge the swift and coordinated response of the Government of India, under the decisive leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, who acted promptly and sensitively in this time of national distress. We also recognize the efforts of Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah for overseeing the emergency response mechanism; Union Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu for ensuring immediate action at the regulatory and operational levels; and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr. Bhupendra Patel for extending full state support in rescue, medical care, and coordination efforts. This timely intervention has certainly helped contain further chaos and reflects the government’s commitment to public safety and accountability.

However, the larger institutional responsibility must now be shouldered by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which, under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), bears the mandate to uphold the integrity of global civil aviation norms. Early independent evaluations point toward serious lapses in maintenance, failure in preventive diagnostics, and systemic non-compliance with standard safety obligations, both by the operator and the manufacturer.

Given this background, and in accordance with the provisions of Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention relating to the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents, we urge ICAO to deploy its own independent representatives to participate directly in the ongoing inquiry in India. It is imperative that this process include full cooperation from Boeing, whose representatives should also be formally inducted into the investigation, under the oversight of ICAO. ICAO must coordinate with the Government of India and the concerned Indian regulatory agencies to ensure that the investigation remains transparent, impartial, and technically robust. A factually grounded, non-biased, and independently verifiable report must be produced and made public, reflecting the true causes and culpabilities involved in this catastrophe.

Further, in view of the scale and gravity of the incident, ICAO should formally direct Boeing and Air India to ensure the provision of fair and immediate compensation to the families of each deceased, amounting to no less than £200,000 per fatality. This should be done without delay, and in accordance with equitable principles of international aviation liability and restitution.

It is equally essential that ICAO now consider adopting structural reforms to prevent recurrence of such tragedies. Under Article 37 of the Chicago Convention, ICAO is empowered to frame and enforce international standards to improve air navigation and safety oversight. In exercise of this mandate, ICAO must set enforceable limits on the maximum operational lifespan of commercial aircraft, making it mandatory for aircraft beyond a certain threshold to undergo a re-certification process supervised by ICAO-accredited authorities. Periodic, independent inspections conducted by ICAO-certified technical auditors should also be institutionalized, in accordance with Annex 6, Part I, Chapter 8 of the Convention.

Simultaneously, ICAO should introduce a transparent global safety grading index that evaluates each operator’s compliance with audit findings, maintenance schedules, and incident responses. Manufacturers, including Boeing, must be held to strict adherence with safety directives and recall mandates, with binding obligations and defined consequences for default.

In the interest of transparency and public trust, ICAO must establish a publicly accessible global aircraft audit registry containing verified information regarding aircraft identity, age, maintenance records, and safety inspection outcomes. This must be integrated into passenger-facing systems such that flyers are empowered to access real-time safety data at the time of booking air tickets. Such democratization of safety information will encourage ethical corporate behavior and foster safety-driven competition among operators.

A globally recognized ICAO-led safety rating will also establish a reputational economy where operators and manufacturers maintaining superior compliance will naturally benefit from higher passenger trust, institutional support, and commercial viability. This incentive structure, coupled with regulatory enforcement, will elevate safety practices across jurisdictions and ensure long-term systemic improvements.

The full legal and institutional authority to implement the above reforms exists under the framework of Annex 13 (Standards 3.1, 5.1, and 6.3), Annex 6 (Maintenance obligations), Annex 19 (Safety management obligations), and Articles 37 and 38 of the Chicago Convention. These provisions not only empower ICAO but create an obligation to proactively safeguard global civil aviation and prevent institutional complacency.

In closing, we submit this representation with a deep sense of urgency and commitment to the principles of justice, accountability, and institutional reform. The International Council of Jurists, remains available for legal and policy collaboration on this issue and urges the ICAO to act swiftly in ensuring that such incidents are not only investigated but lead to enduring reforms in international aviation governance.

We request that this matter be considered with the seriousness and urgency it merits, in the shared interest of protecting lives and ensuring institutional accountability in global air travel.