Misplaced Farewell: British Families Shocked After Receiving Wrong Remains from Air India Crash
Multiple British families received wrong remains after the Air India Flight 171 crash. Investigations are underway, and authorities face mounting criticism.
NewsSutra
London / Ahmedabad – In a distressing turn amid the aftermath of the Air India Flight 171 disaster on June 12, multiple British families have reportedly been sent remains that do not belong to their loved ones. This revelation—brought to light by The Guardian—comes as UK relatives grapple with not only the trauma of the crash but the agony of mishandled repatriation. The crisis, unfolding just as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits London, has triggered a flurry of diplomatic pressure, investigations, and demands for accountability.
What the Reports Say
The Guardian reports some bereaved British families discovered they received entirely incorrect remains. In one case, a family prepared for a funeral only to find out the coffin contained the body of an unknown passenger. In another, body parts from multiple victims were mixed in a single casket—so called "commingling"—requiring additional identification and separation before funerals could proceed The Guardianinkl.
This shocking development emerged after DNA checks conducted by Dr Fiona Wilcox, the West London coroner, flagged inconsistencies between the remains provided and the samples submitted by families. In one disturbing instance, a British family was left without any remains to bury, while another had to delay the funeral due to commingled remains The Times of India+8The Guardian+8The Times+8.
Scale of the Tragedy
Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 onboard and 19 on the ground. Among the victims were 52 British citizens. The crash site burned at extreme temperatures, complicating identification. By June 28, authorities confirmed they had identified all 260 fatalities—excluding one lone survivor inkl+4The Guardian+4Wikipedia+4.
DNA-based identification was critical due to the intensity of the blaze—estimated at up to 1,500 °C. Damage to remains forced teams to rely almost solely on genetic testing Wikipedia+15The Times+15inkl+15. It was only after bodies began arriving in the UK that discrepancies became apparent.
Legal and Diplomatic Fallout
Aviation lawyer James Healy-Pratt, representing several families, has expressed alarm over the identification process and chain of custody. He plans to pursue legal recourse and seek a full explanation from Air India, the hospital in Ahmedabad, and Kenyon International Emergency Services—the contractor responsible for handling and transporting remains The Guardian+3The Times+3The Guardian+3Yahoo News+10The Guardian+10The Times+10.
Indian authorities have not stayed silent. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that all remains were handled "with utmost professionalism" and confirmed coordinated efforts with UK officials to address the situation The Guardian+1The Times of India+1.
Diplomatically, the revelation adds strain to the UK-India relationship amid Modi's significant London visit, centered around a major trade agreement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to raise the incident directly with Modi, pressing for transparency and assurance of no further misidentifications The Guardian.
Grieving Families Left in Limbo
For the families, this mistake adds fresh heartbreak. One family paused funeral arrangements after discovering the wrong body arrived. Another struggled to conduct burial rites due to mixed remains, requiring exhumations or re-rerouting the process entirely iask.ca+13The Guardian+13The Times+13. Under intense scrutiny, the coroner is now obligated to identify an unidentified body within her jurisdiction.
Earlier in June, relatives also criticized the UK Foreign Office for what they saw as a delayed and inadequate response to the crash. They described being “utterly abandoned” and pointed to poor communication and lack of consular support in India The GuardianThe Guardian+1People.com+1.
Scrutiny of Repatriation Protocols
These events cast a spotlight on repatriation procedures during international disasters. The crash overwhelmed Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, where body bags were often dispatched directly. In the chaos, some remains were delivered in plastic containers instead of coffins The Times+2inkl+2The Times+2.
Dr Wilcox’s involvement underscores how national coronial systems can provide an independent layer of verification. But the chain of custody—from crash site to hospital to airport to UK mortuaries—reveals vulnerabilities. Critics argue that a British-led forensic team should have been embedded in Ahmedabad from the start to ensure proper protocols were observed.
Calls for Reform and Accountability
Affected families, legal advocates, and parliamentarians are now demanding:
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An independent inquiry into identification processes and international coordination.
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Greater UK consular presence at disaster sites with forensic and translation support.
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Mandatory DNA cross-checking before repatriation authorization.
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Transparent communication from airlines, hospitals, and governments about handling remains.
Peter Neenan, another aviation lawyer, has already criticised Air India for its handling of bereaved families—accusing the airline of prioritizing damage control over empathy. While Air India asserts it provided liaison officers, interim compensation, and logistical support, legal teams argue that the methods used were "unacceptable" and exacerbated family distress The GuardianThe Guardian.
What Happens Next
Investigations are ongoing on both sides:
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UK coroner: Dr Fiona Wilcox continues to verify the identities of repatriated remains.
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UK government: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is preparing crisis support reforms.
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Indian authorities: The MEA convened reviews into procedures and promised full transparency.
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Legal teams: Healy-Pratt and others are collecting evidence to support compensation claims.
Prime Minister Starmer’s meeting with Modi this week may prove pivotal. The mishandling of remains threatens to overshadow the state visit and its trade narrative if not addressed publicly and promptly.
A Legacy of Loss and Lessons
This tragedy is now defined not only by the initial crash but by the ripple effects of systemic failure—where identification errors compounded grief, trust in institutions faltered, and grieving families were left in bureaucratic limbo.
It raises urgent questions about how countries, particularly those with frequent travel interchange, coordinate in mass casualty events. As global mobility intensifies, so does the demand for robust, collaborative frameworks that guarantee dignity in death as well as life.
Further Reading & Resources
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For a broader examination of disaster response and identification protocols, see BBC’s analysis on DNA identification in aviation disasters (e.g., after Malaysia Airlines MH370).
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For expert commentary on UK consular reform, refer to UK Parliament’s recent select committee on crisis management in overseas incidents.
