Air India crash: Did British families receive wrong bodies? India says ‘handled with utmost professionalism’

India has responded to a foreign media report alleging that some British families received the remains of strangers instead of their loved ones who died in the horrific Air India crash, asserting that all remains were handled with he “utmost professionalism”.

MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is working closely with the United Kingdom over concerns linked to remains of British Air India passengers who died in the plane crash. “We have seen the report and have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention,” he said.

The MEA spokesperson also emphasised that the identification of the Air India crash victims were carried out as per protocols and with “utmost professionalism” by the concerned authorities, rejecting reports of any misidentification on the part of Indian authorities. 

“In the wake of the tragic [Air India plane] crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements. 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.”

WHAT DID FOREIGN MEDIA REPORT SAY?

A foreign media, Daily Mail, reported on Wednesday, July 23, that some families received wrong remains, forcing them to cancel funerals.

In one case, a coffin contained the body of an unidentified passenger; in another, commingled remains of multiple victims had to be separated before the burial. There are two such cases of bodies of strangers being sent to the UK and there are fears that more such cases could come forth.

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The report mentioned that a high-level probe is now underway in both London and India, with PM Keir Starmer expected to raise the issue with PM Modi during his upcoming visit to London.

Aviation lawyer James Healy Pratt, who is representing many of these British families, said, “I've been sitting down in the homes of these lovely British families over the last month, and the first thing they want is their loved ones back.”

“But some of them 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,” he said.