Wrongful Identification of Remains Adds to Families' Grief

British families mourning the loss of loved ones in the Air India disaster have discovered that some of the remains repatriated to them were wrongly identified, according to an aviation lawyer representing the families. This has caused further distress and grief for those already suffering from the tragedy.

In one instance, a family had to halt funeral plans after learning that the coffin they received contained the body of an individual who was not their relative. Another case involved the "commingled" remains of multiple victims being mistakenly placed in a single casket, necessitating separation before a funeral could proceed.

The errors came to light when the Inner West London coroner, Dr. Fiona Wilcox, attempted to verify the identities of the repatriated Britons by comparing their DNA with samples provided by the families. The lawyer representing the families, James Healy-Pratt, is expecting the British Prime Minister to address these issues with the Indian Prime Minister during their upcoming meeting.

The crash of a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 12th, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, resulted in 241 fatalities, including 52 Britons. A preliminary report indicated that the plane's fuel switches had been moved to the cut-off position.

Healy-Pratt stated that at least 12 victims' remains had been repatriated. He emphasized the families' need for answers and assurances regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones. He described the families' distress and the need for an explanation for the identification process failures.

The lawyer explained that one family had been able to hold a funeral after the commingled remains were separated, while another family was left in a state of uncertainty, unable to bury their loved one because the remains in the coffin were not those of their relative. The coroner also faces the challenge of an unidentified person within her jurisdiction.

The families have contacted their Members of Parliament, the Foreign Office, and the offices of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. Healy-Pratt stated that the chain of custody for the deceased was unacceptably poor and that investigations are underway to determine the causes of these failures.

Air India declined to comment on the report, but an airline official noted that the airline was not involved in the identification process. India's ministry of external affairs spokesperson stated that they are working closely with the UK to address the concerns and that the identification of victims was carried out according to established protocols.