Families in the UK mourning the loss of loved ones in the Air India tragedy have learned that some remains were misidentified and wrongly returned to them, according to an aviation attorney representing the affected families.
One bereaved family had to cancel funeral arrangements after being told their relative’s coffin contained the body of another passenger. Another case involved mixed remains from multiple victims mistakenly placed in the same casket, requiring separation before burial, as reported by *CuriosityNews*.
The revelations came just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to London, where he will meet UK leader Keir Starmer to finalize a key trade deal.
The errors were uncovered when Inner West London coroner Dr. Fiona Wilcox attempted to confirm the identities of repatriated British victims through DNA matching with family-provided samples, the report stated.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route to London, crashed into a medical college shortly after departing Ahmedabad airport on June 12, killing all 241 people aboard, including 52 British nationals. Another 19 died on the ground, with 67 seriously injured.
An initial investigation report cited that the plane’s fuel switches were turned off mid-flight, intensifying uncertainty about the cause. The July 10 report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau noted both fuel switches shifted to the cutoff position after takeoff, halting engine fuel supply.
While some victims were buried or cremated in India, at least 12 sets of remains were sent back to the UK, said James Healy-Pratt, the attorney representing many affected British families.
Healy-Pratt is investigating the identification failures.
“Over the past month, I’ve met grieving families who just want their loved ones back,” he told *CuriosityNews*. “But some received incorrect remains, leaving them devastated. They deserve answers.”
He explained that while one family managed to separate mixed remains for a funeral, another remains stalled, lacking closure.
“[They] have no one to bury because their casket holds the wrong person,” he said. “If it’s not their relative, whose remains are they? Likely another passenger, meaning another family was given the wrong body.”
He added, “The coroner also faces challenges, as an unidentified body remains under her jurisdiction.”
When contacted, Wilcox declined to comment.
Healy-Pratt said families are liaising with lawmakers and government officials regarding the matter.
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