Misidentified Bodies Sent to British Families After Air India Crash: Authorities Respond
The fallout from the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad has deepened after it was confirmed that at least two UK-based families received the wrong bodies of relatives killed in the tragedy. The shocking mix-up was exposed after DNA testing in London revealed significant discrepancies: one family had to cancel a planned funeral when the remains turned out to belong to another victim, while another family found that two crash victims' bodies were commingled in the same coffin and required separation before burial.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded, stating, “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.” They emphasized that identifications followed “established protocols and technical requirements.” Both Indian and UK officials have launched investigations into how the errors occurred.
The crash of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, killed 241 people on board and left only one survivor. At least 52 of the deceased were British nationals. Twelve to thirteen sets of remains were repatriated to the UK after the tragedy.
Lawyers representing the grieving families have demanded explanations and greater transparency, with one advocate noting the “deep distress” caused by the blunder.
The incident has cast a shadow over recovery and repatriation efforts, prompting public apologies and urgent promises to prevent future mistakes. The investigation continues as both governments vow to restore trust and accountability in handling the aftermath of one of India’s deadliest civil aviation disasters.