Air India's actions are unpardonable

It was two years ago this morning that Air India Express Flight 812 crashed on landing at Mangalore airport, killing 158 people of the 166 aboard the Boeing 737. The ties between Dubai, where the flight took off, and Mangalore are strong, united forever in grief by the loss of so many loved ones, family and friends. Both cities are scarred by the tragedy, moved to tears by the memories, forever suffering through the pain of the deaths of so many.

Over the past two years, however, the pain of the victims' families has not been dulled or eased by the manner in which they have been treated by Air India's legal and insurance representatives.

Legal wrangling has delayed payments in full, and groups representing the families are being forced to fight for rightful compensation before the court and in the political arena.

The legal dispute is unseemly. The families deserved better treatment. Now.