Two bereaved British families are demanding answers after being handed the wrong remains of their loved ones who perished in the tragic Air India crash on June 12, which killed 260 people in Ahmedabad. The mix-up, confirmed by legal representatives in the UK, has sparked serious concerns about the handling and identification protocols followed by Indian authorities.
One family, reportedly referred to as "Family X", was forced to cancel the funeral when a London coroner found that the coffin did not contain their relative’s remains. Another family received a casket with the remains of two separate victims, which had to be separated before they could proceed with the final rites.
James Healy-Pratt, an aviation lawyer from Keystone Law representing multiple bereaved British families, said: “I've been sitting down in the homes of these lovely British families over the last month, and the first thing they want is their loved ones back. But some of them have got the wrong remains, and they are clearly distraught over this. It has been going on for a couple of weeks, and I think these families deserve an explanation.”
According to the reports, the mix-up was discovered when DNA matching ordered by Inner West London coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox revealed discrepancies. India's Ministry of External Affairs has acknowledged the allegations and stated it is working with British counterparts to investigate the issue.
“We have seen the report [on wrong remains] and have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased. We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue,” he added.
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Authorities said DNA tests were conducted at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital due to the severely charred condition of most bodies. Sources indicated that the hospital handed over sealed coffins to the families after verifying identities via DNA or dental records, and Air India’s role was limited to logistical support.
The June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, killed 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived. The Boeing 787-8 crashed into a hostel near Sardar Patel International Airport shortly after take-off.
Healy-Pratt, who has taken up the case for several families, said: “Family X have no-one to bury because it was the wrong person in their casket. And if it isn't their relative, the question is, who is it in that coffin? Presumably it's another passenger and their relatives have been given the wrong remains.”
Another victim's son, Altaf Taju from Blackburn, whose parents and brother-in-law died in the crash, said they were not allowed to view the bodies. “They just said, 'This is your mother or father', and gave us a paper label with an ID number on it. We had to take their word for it,” Taju told the Daily Mail. “It’s horrific that this could have happened, but what could anyone do?”
While some British families chose to hold funerals in India due to the condition of the remains, at least 12 bodies were repatriated to the UK. Questions have now emerged over how the remains were labelled, processed, and confirmed.
Indian officials said established protocols were followed in the identification of the dead. “The concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements,” Jaiswal said.
As the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues its technical probe, which now focuses on data from the flight’s black boxes, families are pressing for a parallel inquiry into the misidentification of the dead.
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