Mike Andrews, a prominent lawyer from the US law firm Beasley Allen, is in Ahmedabad to represent families affected by a tragic plane crash. The crash, involving an Air India flight, occurred on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. Only one person survived: a British citizen named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
Andrews arrived in Ahmedabad after visiting Surat and Diu. He plans to stay at a local hotel until August 15, when he will return to the US. His visit aims to gather evidence and support the victims’ families in their fight against the airline.
A group of 65 family members has hired Andrews to seek justice. During his visit to the crash site, he inspected the area closely, gathering information that may help in their legal case. He expressed that solely blaming the pilot for the accident is unjustified.
Andrews stated that his legal team will apply to the Gujarat court for the complete data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) of the aircraft. This data is crucial for understanding what happened during the flight.
Andrews has previously handled cases related to aviation accidents, including the Ethiopian Airlines crash in 2019. He mentioned that this will be his first case in India regarding aviation incidents. The lawyer noted that it is very unfortunate when families receive incorrect remains of their loved ones after such tragedies.
He aims to analyse the CVR and FDR data to reconstruct the events that led to the crash. This data will provide insights into cockpit conversations, alarms, and other details that can shed light on the accident.
Furthermore, Andrews has been in contact with legal teams in the UK to assist with claims under the Montreux Convention, which determines liability in aviation accidents. He expressed a keen interest in meeting with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, to offer both legal and emotional support.
Andrews is dedicated to ensuring that the victims’ families receive the answers they deserve. He stated, “I represent families from both India and the UK, and regardless of nationality, everyone wants answers. Every family wants to know what happened, and they want to know why.”
The crash has raised significant concerns about aviation safety and the responsibilities of airlines. As the investigation continues, Andrews and his team are committed to fighting for justice on behalf of the victims and their families, ensuring that such tragedies do not occur again in the future.