&w=3840&q=100)
Air India crash: DNA tests reveal UK victims' bodies were misidentified
To recall, Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12. The flight was en route to London when it crashed. Only one of the 242 passengers and crew survived, and 19 people on the ground also died. Among the deceased, 52 were British citizens.
Now, families of victims in the UK have alleged that the bodies repatriated to them were misidentified. In one instance, a family cancelled funeral arrangements after being informed that the body in the coffin belonged to someone else. That individual has still not been identified.
According to the Daily Mail, one coffin reportedly contained the remains of more than one victim, which had to be separated before the funeral. The problem came to light after Dr Fiona Wilcox, senior coroner for inner west London, matched DNA samples from the remains with those provided by relatives.
DNA mismatch confirmed
Lawyer James Healy-Pratt, who represents several British families, said that 12 to 13 sets of human remains were sent to the UK after the crash. Of these, DNA testing revealed at least two mismatches.
'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 told the Daily Mail.
Investigations underway
Both British and Indian authorities are looking into the issue. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to raise the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming state visit to Britain.
Some families buried or cremated their loved ones soon after receiving the remains, following their religious customs. However, not all remains were returned in proper caskets — some families received the remains in plastic containers from the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.
Indian government responds
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: '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.'
He added that authorities had followed 'established protocols and technical requirements' in identifying victims.
The DNA testing was carried out by the government-run civil hospital in Ahmedabad, and not by Air India, according to a report by NDTV quoting sources. The airline, which is owned by the Tata Group, did not play a role in identifying or handing over the bodies. The caskets were sent to the UK via Air India Cargo and coordinated by Kenyon International Emergency Services, a crisis response firm.
Air India has confirmed that it is looking into the issue but has not officially confirmed any mix-up in the repatriation process.
Allegations of pressure over compensation
Earlier this month, law firm Stewarts, which is representing the families of some victims, accused Air India of using 'coercive tactics' regarding compensation.
In a statement, the firm alleged: 'Our clients were told by Air India that they have to complete a questionnaire to receive an advance payment, forcing them to fill out this questionnaire in intense heat with no guidance on the terms and questions within it. We have now heard that Air India is following up with families and pressuring them to complete the questionnaire under threats of receiving no compensation.'
Stewarts further claimed that the forms included legally complex terms that grieving families may not fully understand. 'The information being asked could be used against families by Air India in the future, even though few families will understand how the questions should be interpreted,' the statement added.
Air India denies allegations
Air India has firmly denied the claims, calling them 'unsubstantiated and inaccurate'. In a statement, the airline said: 'Air India has been making considerable efforts to process payment of interim compensation (also referred to as advance compensation) as soon as possible, in order to meet the immediate financial needs of affected family members, with the first payments having been made within days of the accident.'
Following the crash, the Tata Group announced compensation of ₹1 crore for each victim's family. In addition, Air India offered an interim payment of ₹25 lakh to help with urgent financial needs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
23 minutes ago
- India Today
Bharat must remain Bharat, shouldn't be altered: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday emphasised that 'Bharat must remain Bharat' and should not be translated or altered in any context, as reported by news agency at the 'Gyan Sabha', a national education conclave organised by the RSS-linked Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, Bhagwat said that Bharat is not just a name but the nation's very 'identity'.advertisement'Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India that is Bharat,' is true. But Bharat is Bharat, and that is why, while writing and speaking, we should keep Bharat as Bharat... Bharat must remain Bharat,' Bhagwat said, stressing that the global respect India commands is rooted in its original identity, or 'Bharatiyata'. He cautioned that losing one's identity, regardless of achievements, could result in a loss of respect and security on the global stage. 'The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose your identity, whatever other meritorious qualities you may have, you will never be respected or secure in this world. That is the rule of thumb,' he highlighted India's historical commitment to peace and non-violence, saying the country has never followed expansionist or exploitative policies.'Viksit Bharat, Vishwa Guru Bharat, will not be the cause of war ... and will never exploit. We have gone from Mexico to Siberia; we walked on foot, and we went in small boats. We did not invade anyone's territory or ruin it. We did not usurp anyone's kingdom. We taught everyone civilisation,' he to India's civilisational philosophy, he added, 'You see the tradition of Indian knowledge. The root of the tradition is in that truth... the truth of the unity of the whole world.'On education, Bhagwat called for a values-based system rooted in India's cultural ethos. He stressed the need for education to foster self-reliance and social responsibility. 'One small intention behind getting education is to be able to stand on your own in your life and to be able to keep your family intact...' he to nationalist thinker Maharishi Arvind, the RSS Chief linked the revival of Sanatana Dharma to the idea of a Hindu nation. 'Yogi Arvind said that it is God's will for the Sanatana Dharma to rise and for the rise of Sanatana Dharma, the rise of the Hindu nation is inevitable. These are his words, and we see that today's world needs this vision. Therefore, we will have to first understand what Bharat is...' he concluded by reiterating the importance of anchoring India's education system in its civilisational values and national identity.- EndsWith inputs from InMust Watch
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bulldozers & cops reach Uriamghat as govt looks to clear reserve forest land
1 2 Guwahati: Assam's next major eviction operation slated in Uriamghat, situated along the Assam-Nagaland border, is poised to stir up the tranquillity of the region this week as bulldozers have begun entering the region. Authorities said vast forest expanses have been degraded by encroachers over the years, potentially breaching further into upper Assam districts. More than 80 to 90% of encroachers, a significant number of whom identify as 'Miya Muslims' (a term referring to migrant Muslims of Bangladesh/East Pakistan origin), have vacated their homes in Uriamghat's Rengma Reserve Forest, from where over 10,000 people will be evicted. Security was intensified in the region on Sunday, with numerous police and security personnel deployed and bulldozers placed in school fields. Only a handful of families remain, camping close to the occupied lands until the demolition of their houses is executed. Sarupathar MLA Biswajit Phukan said the large-scale eviction could commence as early as Tuesday. "29th July, 2025 will be an important and historic day for Sarupathar," Phukan wrote on social media, thanking CM Sarma and highlighting the urgency of the situation. As opposition parties contemplate criticising the govt for the scale of the forthcoming operation, Assam information and public relations minister Pijush Hazarika on Sunday criticised opposition leaders, including Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that they have supported encroachers and doubtful citizens. "They hobnob with encroachers and doubtful citizens. Our govt has acted against those people who have unjustly grabbed lands. Govt has not touched lands which have pattas (land deeds)," Hazarika said. He maintained that the decision on whether encroachers are Indian citizens or foreigners lies with the courts, but underlined that the govt would not tolerate encroachment of govt land. "Those who back the encroachers are not satisfied at doubtful citizens taking over lower and central Assam. People like Gaurav Gogoi will find peace only when upper Assam is also encroached upon," Hazarika said, adding that govt would not provide compensation or land to. According to govt data, out of the total 13,921 hectares of forest reserve at Rengma in Golaghat district, 10,958 hectares have been encroached. Families living there said they settlement in the area five decades ago from various central Assam districts and later from the Barak Valley region, with a few coming from Bihar.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Vijai Sharma, Kyoto Protocol architect & India's ex-chief climate negotiator, dies
For over a decade and a half, Vijai Sharma fought for the rights of India and other developing countries at the international climate negotiations. He was one of the architects of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which strongly safeguarded the interests of the developing countries, and ensured that the primary responsibility of reducing the impacts of climate change was taken by the rich and the developed world. A 1974-batch IAS officer, who served as the Environment Secretary and then as Chief Information Commissioner, Sharma died in the United States, where he was visiting his son on July 23, after suffering a stroke, family sources said. He was 75. Sharma lived in Lucknow. Sharma had two productive stints in the Environment Ministry. During his first stint as joint secretary, between 1995 and 2001, he became India's chief negotiator at international climate talks, which had just been initiated, and strongly influenced the finalisation of the Kyoto Protocol. He was also instrumental in ensuring that Delhi hosted these talks COP8 in 2002. After stints in the Cabinet Secretariat, and other places, Sharma returned to the Environment Ministry as its Secretary in 2008. By this time, the developed countries had already begun the process of dismantling the Kyoto Protocol, and replacing it with something they were more comfortable with. This was also the time when India's environmental governance came under great scrutiny, with an increasing number of industrial and infrastructure projects testing the environmental norms. Sharma presided over a period of strengthening of India's environmental regulatory structure to bring in greater transparency. 'Vijay Sharma was the quintessential civil servant — fearless in giving advice but faithful in execution even when his advice was not taken. I have many fond memories of my close association with him for a decade and a half. He had wide interests and possessed an irreverent sense of humour. He loved it when he himself became the subject of humour, laughing at the description I once gave him — Sir Humphrey Sharma (Humphrey Appleby was a character from the British TV series Yes Minister),' said Jairam Ramesh, then Environment Minister under whom Sharma served as Secretary. After retiring, Sharma became an expert member at the National Green Tribunal, a new institution created during his time, before being appointed the Chief Information Commissioner. Sharma, who had a postgraduate law degree from Harvard University, had a passion for history, and authored, along with his wife and IAS officer Rita Sharma, a few books on the forts of India. But he continued to be sought out for his expertise on environment and climate law and policy. 'As an administrator he had a keen eye for details. He used to recall with great pride how he had to burn midnight oil, as G77 and China coordinator in the climate negotiations, to shape the rules of the carbon market under the Kyoto Protocol. He was also quite proud of his contribution to the introduction of CNG buses in Delhi under the Supreme Court orders and recounted in detail how the decision was implemented. His departure leaves a void in the world of climate negotiators of the Kyoto era. He will be deeply missed by those who worked with him when India's climate policy was still shaping up in the early years of this century,' said R R Rashmi, former IAS officer and chief negotiator on climate talks himself.
