The son of a woman killed in the Air India plane crash has come forward to reveal that wrong remains were found in his mother’s casket after her body was returned to the UK. Miten Patel, whose father also died in the crash, expressed his concerns about the mix-up, saying, “How many others are in there?” The crash, which occurred in early June, claimed the lives of 260 people.
According to Miten Patel, the coroner identified the mixed-up remains, and he was left to worry about the possibility of other remains being in the casket with his mother. “It’s obviously very upsetting,” he said, acknowledging that mistakes can happen. “But there has to be a level of responsibility that you’re sending the right bodies to the UK.”
The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday that the wrong bodies were being sent to loved ones following the crash, with two cases allegedly involving the wrong remains being returned to families in the UK. In one case, a family reportedly received the wrong body entirely, while another involved the remains of several people being placed in the same casket.
India’s foreign ministry has responded to the allegations, saying that all remains were handled with “utmost professionalism” and dignity. The ministry added that they were working closely with UK officials to address concerns and issues related to the identification of victims.
“We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue,” the ministry said. “In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements.”
The UK government has also responded to the allegations, saying that formal identification of bodies is a matter for the Indian authorities. A spokesperson for the UK government added that they continue to liaise with the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India on behalf of the Inner West London Senior Coroner to support the coronial process.
The UK’s Foreign Office said it was continuing to support relatives and loved ones, with dedicated caseworkers allocated to each family who wish to have one, and Family Liaison Officer support remaining in place for those who requested it.
A lawyer representing many of the families affected by the crash said they expected UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to raise “these serious issues” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the UK this week. “The families deserve urgent answers and assurances about the whereabouts of their loved ones,” the lawyer added.
Miten Patel’s concerns about the mix-up are understandable, given the emotional toll of losing loved ones in the crash. As the investigation into the crash continues, it is essential that the authorities take steps to ensure that the remains of victims are handled with dignity and respect.