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Days after Air India crash, DNA sample of only one British national passenger pending, says Govt official
Of the 241 passengers, who lost their lives on the ill-fated Air India AI-171 plane that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, the DNA sample of only one passenger is still awaited even as samples of rest of the 240 deceased passengers have been collected at Kasauti Bhavan in BJ Medical College, a Gujarat government official said on Tuesday.
British passengers Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek and Jamie Ray Meek, founders of The Wellness Foundry, were returning to the UK after their visit to India for an Ayurvedic retreat and were on-board the flight. While Jamie Ray Meek's mother arrived on Tuesday to submit her DNA sample, Fiongal's family will submit their DNA sample in the UK on a Fast Technology Analysis (FTA) card, which will be transported with help of the Indian Embassy to Ahmedabad to identify Fiongal's body.
The government official, quoted earlier, said: 'We have collected blood samples for almost all the deceased persons on board the Air India flight. Only two were remaining, Jamie Meek and Fiongal Greenlaw Meek. Fiongal's mother has given her blood samples whereas arrangements are being made to collect blood samples of Jamie's relative in the United Kingdom itself with the help of the Indian Embassy there. Once that sample arrives, the work for the collection of blood samples of passengers and crew members on board the flight will be complete.'
During their stay in India, Fiongal and Jamie had posted multiple videos of their experience in the country and even filmed a final video from the Ahmedabad airport right before they boarded the plane. In their last video, filmed in the airport lounge, the couple is seen cracking jokes.
'We are at the airport. Just boarding. Goodbye, India.' Meek is heard joking with Jamie, asking him about the 'biggest takeaway from the trip', before jovially saying, 'My biggest takeaway is don't lose patience with your partner.'
He then said, 'Going back happily, happily, happily, calm.'
Just the night before the crash, the couple had also filmed a video at the heritage hotel, House of MG, where they had been put up, praising the 'most delicious thali food' calling it the 'perfect way to round up the trip'.
Promising their fans a vlog on their India visit, Fiongal had said: 'So, it's our last night in India and we have had a magical experience, really. There have been some quite mind-blowing things… We are going to make a vlog about the whole trip and share it.'
Fiongal, a tarot reader, had quit his job as a fashion designer to start his spiritual wellness brand, offering services such as psychic readings, tarot readings, reiki healing, sound baths, psychic development courses, past-life regression therapy and bespoke events. He founded 'The Wellness Foundry' in 2018, 'born out of a profound spiritual awakening that was sparked by a mysterious illness', the company's website said.
Jamie, a spiritual practitioner and yoga teacher, joined the company in 2023 as co-director and head of events. The duo also ran a podcast, Spirit Level, where they shared perspectives on mindfulness and spirituality.
