Air India CEO gives new update on how much it will pay families and survivor affected in plane crash that killed 241

Air India's CEO has given an update on how much it will pay families and survivors affected by the plane crash that killed 241.

Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD of Air India has revealed in video posted to social media just how much the families affected by the doomed flight will receive in monetary compensation.

On Thursday (June 12), a 40-year-old British man became the sole survivor of the London-bound Air India flight that had departed from Ahmedabad and crashed less than a minute after takeoff into residential buildings.

The crash killed all other 241 passengers and crew, as well as dozens more on the ground.

Wilson has now said Air India will be issuing financial support to those affected with an interim payment of 25 lakh rupees, or approximately £21,000 (around $28,000), to each of the families of the deceased and also the survivors.

"This is in addition to the 1 crore rupees, or approximately £85,000, already committed by Tata Sons," he continued.

The CEO then explained that the company is beginning its next stages and working with the grieving families.

"The process of reuniting next of kin with their loved ones and personal effects has begun," Wilson continued. "Our teams are working closely with the families and the authorities to help the reunification process and, where appropriate, with repatriation."

"This is an emotional process and we ask that families be given space."

Widespread safety checks are also being carried out across all of its fleet.

"Air India is also in the process of completing precautionary safety checks on Boeing 787 aircraft as directed by our regulator, the DGCA," Wilson said.

"We will complete all checks within the timelines prescribed by the regulator."

Since the jet came down on Thursday, the authorities confirmed its black box was recovered from the crash site and an investigation is underway to determine what happened.

Wilson continued: "As has been confirmed by the authorities, the aircraft's data recorder has been recovered, which will form part of the official investigation and Air India continues to fully cooperate with these investigations."

"At this juncture, I also wish to acknowledge the work done by first responders and those from many organisations since the accident and also to our crew, who continue to operate with professionalism and with safety always as their primary responsibility.

"Thank you," he concluded.

His statement comes as the authorities are yet to determine how and why the plane came down so suddenly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport.

The captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, had called out down his radio: "Mayday [...] no thrust, losing power, unable to lift."

Within minutes, it then crashed into a residential area, Meghani Nagar, and into a medical college hostel where it erupted into a massive fireball.