Air India Crash: UK Families Receive Wrong Mortal Remains Amid Investigation
Mortal Remains Mix-Up Following Air India Crash
In the wake of a troubling report from a British tabloid, it has emerged that two families in the UK were given incorrectly identified remains of victims from the tragic Air India crash that occurred on June 12. The Ministry of External Affairs in India has stated that all necessary protocols were adhered to during the handling of the remains.
The tabloid reported that one family had to cancel funeral arrangements after discovering that the coffin they received contained the body of an unidentified individual. Another family alleged that they received a casket containing mixed remains of several victims.
This unfortunate situation was uncovered when a coroner attempted to confirm the identities of the deceased by comparing DNA samples with those provided by the victims' families.
James Healy-Pratt, an aviation attorney representing some of the bereaved families, expressed their distress, stating, “Some 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.”
In light of these revelations, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal from the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the Indian government has been collaborating with UK authorities since these issues were first raised. He reassured that all remains were treated with the highest level of professionalism and respect for the deceased's dignity.
The foreign ministry further clarified that the identification process was conducted according to established protocols and technical standards.
Our response to media queries regarding a report in the Daily Mail on the Air India crash⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 23, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/pTWIIMSBhi pic.twitter.com/IP9QgLNuz7
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was on its way from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick airport, tragically crashed just 33 seconds after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 241 lives on board. Only one passenger survived, suffering from impact injuries.
The aircraft's crash into a hostel building at BJ Medical College also claimed the lives of at least 34 individuals on the ground, marking this incident as one of the most devastating aviation disasters in recent history.