Air India Crash Aftermath: UK Families Allege They Received Wrong Remains
In a harrowing development following the tragic Air India crash on June 12, at least two families of British victims have reportedly received the wrong remains, compounding their grief and sparking a legal inquiry into the identification process. The Indian government maintains that all established procedures were followed, creating a painful standoff for the bereaved families seeking closure.
Painful Discovery in London
The devastating mix-up came to light when the coroner in London, Dr. Fiona Wilcox, attempted to verify the identities of the repatriated remains by matching their DNA with samples provided by the families. According to James Healy-Pratt, a lawyer representing several British families, the results revealed shocking errors.
In one instance, a family had to abandon their funeral plans after being informed by the coroner that the coffin contained the body of an unknown person, not their loved one. "One family was left with no one to bury," the lawyer stated. In another deeply distressing case, a family received a coffin containing the mixed remains of their relative and another passenger. They were forced to have the remains separated before they could proceed with a funeral.
This has left families in an agonizing limbo. "If it isn't their relative, the question is, who is it in that coffin?" Healy-Pratt told The Daily Mail, highlighting the cascading effect of the errors.
Official Identification Process
The crash of the Gatwick-bound flight AI171 in Ahmedabad killed 241 people on board, including 53 British nationals. As most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition, the identification process relied on DNA testing conducted at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
According to Indian government sources, the remains were handed over to the next of kin in sealed coffins after the DNA sampling was complete. They assert that Air India's role was limited to facilitating the transfer and providing support to the families through a hired emergency services agency. India's Ministry of External Affairs has stated that established norms were followed and the remains were handled with due regard for the dignity of the deceased.
The Search is Still On
For the affected families, the official explanation provides little comfort. They are now demanding a full investigation into the chain of events, from the recovery of the bodies at the crash site to the final labeling and handover.
Altaf Taju, who lost three family members in the crash, recounted the agonizing process. He told The Daily Mail that families were not allowed to view the remains and had to trust the paper labels on the coffins. "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," he said.
The families' lawyer is now working to uncover how such a fundamental and painful error could have occurred. In conclusion, this distressing situation has added a layer of bureaucratic horror to an already immense personal tragedy. For the families involved, the path to grieving is now blocked by a search for answers, accountability, and the simple, dignified return of their loved ones.
