Air India Crash: MEA Responds As UK Families Allege Wrong Bodies Repatriated, Forced To Sign Forms
Following the Air India AI171 crash, UK families allege DNA mismatches in repatriated remains, suggesting a mix-up of victims. They accuse Air India of pressuring them to sign complex compensation documents.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday confirmed that it is actively working alongside United Kingdom authorities to address concerns following a British media report alleging that some victims of last month’s Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad were misidentified.
Responding to media queries about a report published by the Daily Mail, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that all procedures involving the identification and handling of mortal remains were conducted with full adherence to technical standards and with respect for the deceased.
“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. In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements. 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,” Jaiswal said.
According to news agency PTI, official sources said the Air India crash was a gruesome accident and identifying the body parts was a particularly complex exercise. In accidents of such nature, it is likely that the body tissues of different people get fused, which may lead to different results when making DNA analyses, one of the sources said.
2 UK Families Claim DNA Mismatch in Repatriated Remains, Allege Pressure Over Compensation
According to the Daily Mail report, two families were affected by errors in the identification process. In one instance, a family had to cancel funeral plans after being told that the remains in the coffin were not of their relative, but of another unidentified individual. Another case involved the remains of more than one victim being mistakenly placed in a single casket due to commingling.
The Air India AI-171 flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. The aircraft collided with the BJ Medical College hostel complex in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area, resulting in 260 fatalities.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on June 18 issued new draft regulations titled Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025. These draft rules aim to empower authorities to act swiftly against buildings or trees in aerodrome zones that exceed permissible height limits—measures intended to minimise future risks to flight safety.
According to a report by NDTV, James Healy, a lawyer representing the affected British families, said that DNA analysis indicated a mismatch in at least two of the caskets sent to the United Kingdom. Of the 12 to 13 sets of human remains repatriated following the crash, two families were informed that the remains they received were not those of their relatives.
Adding to the controversy, Stewarts, a prominent UK-based litigation-only law firm representing several of the victims’ families, has accused Air India of coercing relatives into signing complex legal documents to access interim compensation.
“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,” the firm stated.
The firm further cautioned that the forms contain legally sensitive language that could be interpreted against the families later. “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 firm added.
Air India Denies Allegations, Cites Efforts to Support Families
Air India has firmly rejected these accusations, 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 an ex-gratia compensation of ₹1 crore (approximately £85,000) for each bereaved family. Additionally, the airline pledged an interim financial relief of ₹25 lakh (approximately £21,500) to address urgent monetary requirements.
DNA Matching Confirmed for 254 Bodies
Authorities in Ahmedabad, including the police and district health department, confirmed that nearly all victims had been identified. According to Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent at the Civil Hospital, DNA analysis was used to match 254 victims, while six were identified through facial recognition.
“I can say that a total of 254 DNA matches were done, all identified and handed over. Six were identified through facial recognition, and they were also handed over. So, a total of 260 bodies were identified and handed over to their family members,” Joshi stated. He also noted that among the deceased, 241 were passengers and 19 were non-passengers.
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