Families of the 52 Britons killed in the 12 June crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad say the UK government has provided scant on-the-ground assistance, leaving them “utterly abandoned” as they wait to repatriate remains and secure consular support. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has acknowledged logistical difficulties and says staff are working ‘around the clock’ in India and London. The criticism comes as UK and US law firms—including Stewarts, Keystone Law and Wisner—prepare potential civil actions against Air India and aircraft maker Boeing. Lawyers are examining possible negligence and are expected to file suits in London and U.S. courts once preliminary findings from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are released later this month. Separate tensions have erupted over compensation. More than 40 families represented by Stewarts allege the Tata-owned carrier pressured them to complete detailed questionnaires on their income and financial dependency in sweltering, crowded rooms, implying payouts could be withheld. They contend the tactic could reduce final damages by ‘millions of pounds’. Air India rejects the accusations as “completely false and baseless,” saying the questionnaire is a standard verification step that can be filled online or by email. The airline says interim payments of Rs 2.5 million have reached 47 families, with 55 more being processed, and notes that Tata has separately committed Rs 10 million per victim and a ₹500-crore trust for longer-term support.