New Delhi/ Ahmedabad, July 5 -- Air India on Friday denied allegations that it coerced families of victims from the AI-171 crash into signing documents about their financial dependency on the deceased in an attempt to reduce compensation payouts.

The airline called the claims "unsubstantiated and inaccurate", saying it takes "such accusations incredibly seriously" because the "support and welfare of the families impacted by this tragic incident is our number one priority".

The controversy emerged following a report in The Guardian in which aviation lawyer Peter Neenan, who represents families of the crash victims, accused the airline of "ethically outrageous" behaviour towards bereaved relatives.

Neenan, a partner at UK law firm Stewar...