India reacts to the British media report alleging that the wrong bodies were sent to families from the Air India crash.
NEW DELHI, India—July 24, 2025: India has officially responded to a report in the British media that indicates some families of British nationals who died in the crash of Air India flight 171 on June 12, 2025, at Ahmadabad, received the dead bodies allegedly mixed or wrongly sent. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly rebutted such allegations, stating that protocols for identification and utmost professionalism were observed in handling all victims and confirming that there was still cooperation with UK authorities on these questions raised.
Allegations of Misidentification
The initial report is that of the Daily Mail, but it was also repeated by other media in the U.K. This cites British lawyers representing several affected families. Such lawyers say to have gotten numerous examples of “mistakes with mixed remains.” As one family learned there was a previously unknown corpse in the coffin of its loved one, this family reportedly had to cancel funeral plans. Another case involved “commingled” remains of several victims in a single casket awaiting separation before the funeral could proceed. The errors apparently became known, as the Inner West London Senior Coroner, Professor Fiona Wilcox, sought to verify the identities of repatriated Britons through DNA matching with family samples.
Official Response From India
Responding to a media query on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal clarifies, “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.” He also added, “Identifications of victims post the tragic tragedy were made by appropriate authorities through established protocols and technical requirements. All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and due regard for the dignity of the deceased.” Regarding continued cooperation with UK authorities, Jaiswal insisted, “We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue.”
What Forensic Process and Role of the UK
The first phase of victim identification and DNA matching of crash victim bodies was carried out at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital by forensics India teams, including specialists from the Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). A spokesperson for the UK government said, “Formal identification of bodies is a matter of concern for the Indian authorities.” All repatriated remains, though, are nevertheless being looked into on an independent basis, according to procedures within the UK, by the Inner West London Senior Coroner. UK disaster victim identification experts were also sent to Ahmedabad for consular response and understanding the local victim identification processes.
Wider Picture of the Crash
Air India Flight 171, which is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, bound for London on June 12, 2025, with 241 persons on board, and another 19 died on the ground. 52 of these dead were British nationals. A preliminary investigation report on the accident released on July 10, 2025, by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India (AAIB), indicated that both fuel control switches in the said aircraft were found in the cut-off position after take-off, disabling the engine power.
Diplomatic Implications
The publication of this report and India’s response are prefaced in time by that astoundingly close to the official visit to the UK made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in whose schedule is a meeting with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. British lawyers are expecting that PM Starmer will raise these “serious issues” during discussions with PM Modi since those concerns are crucial to the bereaved families.
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