British families mourning the loss of loved ones in the Air India disaster are demanding urgent answers after discovering that the remains repatriated to the UK were misidentified. Aviation lawyer James Healy-Pratt, who represents several grieving families, confirmed that at least two cases involved serious errors, including one where a family received a coffin with the remains of a stranger.
Another disturbing case involved “commingled” remains of multiple crash victims placed in a single casket, which had to be separated before a funeral could take place. These revelations emerged during DNA verification efforts by London Inner West Coroner Dr. Fiona Wilcox, who sought to confirm identities of the repatriated Britons.
The tragedy stems from the 12 June crash of a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which slammed into a medical college shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 people onboard—including 52 UK nationals—and 19 more on the ground. A preliminary investigation revealed that both fuel switches were mysteriously set to “cut-off,” halting fuel flow to the engines immediately after takeoff.
Identification Process Called Into Question
Healy-Pratt said the repatriation process lacked transparency, and the chain of custody for the remains was “unacceptably poor.” He noted that one British family was forced to cancel funeral arrangements after learning the body in the casket was not their loved one.
“There is now an unidentified person in the coroner’s jurisdiction,” he said, calling for immediate explanations and government action. He added that some families were left in a state of emotional limbo, unable to properly grieve.
One of the affected families told the Guardian that although they believed they received the correct remains, the identification process was riddled with “deep unease,” poor communication, and a lack of accountability both in India and the UK.
Government and Airline Reactions
The incident comes just days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a state visit to finalize a major trade deal. Healy-Pratt said he expects the matter to be raised during the talks.
While Air India declined to comment officially, an airline representative claimed the identification was managed by the hospital, not the airline. India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that identification protocols were followed “with utmost professionalism,” but added they are cooperating with UK officials to address any concerns.
A senior official at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital insisted that the process was “highly scientific” and refused further comment.
