Air India 171 crash: UK man finds stranger's remains' in mother's casket, India says victims were handled with ‘professionalism'

Time of India

5 days ago

The son of a woman who died in the recent Air India plane crash has raised concerns about the handling of victims' remains after allegedly discovering that "other remains" were found in his mother's casket. Miten Patel, who also lost his father in the crash, told the BBC that a coroner in the UK informed him of the presence of remains from more than one individual in his mother's casket. The revelation has raised questions about the identification and repatriation of bodies following the incident.
Family raises questions over identification process
Miten Patel's parents, Ashok and Shobhana Patel, were on board the Gatwick-bound Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The crash claimed the lives of 260 people, including 53 British nationals.
The couple were among the first victims to be repatriated to the UK. Miten Patel said the discovery of mixed-up remains was deeply upsetting. 'People were tired and there was a lot of pressure. But there has to be a level of responsibility that you're sending the right bodies to the UK," he told the BBC. 'How do I know there aren't other remains in the casket with her?'
A British family getting ready to bury a relative who died in the Air India Flight 171 crash were reportedly given the wrong body, causing them to postpone the funeral. According to the Daily Mail, the mistake came to light when the remains in the coffin did not correspond to the…
Media reports highlight multiple alleged mix-ups
The Daily Mail reported two cases where UK families allegedly received the wrong bodies. In one case, the wrong body was sent entirely, and in another, remains from multiple individuals were reportedly found in a single casket. The newspaper also claimed that families have suffered additional distress due to errors made in the repatriation process.
Indian authorities respond to allegations
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to the reports by stating that all mortal remains were handled with 'utmost professionalism' and dignity. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said authorities followed established protocols and technical guidelines during the identification process.
'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,' Jaiswal said. 'We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue.'
The Indian government has not confirmed any mishandling but stated it remains engaged with UK officials to address the concerns raised.
The investigation into the crash and the processes that followed remain ongoing. For affected families, the latest revelations have added a new layer of grief as they seek clarity and accountability.