NEW DELHI, July 23 — India on Wednesday said it is working closely with the United Kingdom to address “concerns and issues” raised after reports emerged that the remains of British victims from the Air India Flight 171 crash were wrongly identified and repatriated.
The Boeing 787, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, killing 261 people — 242 on board and 19 on the ground. Among the dead were 52 British nationals.
British tabloid Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that in at least two cases, the bodies sent back to the UK were misidentified. One grieving family reportedly halted funeral arrangements after learning the remains inside the coffin were not of their relative. In another instance, remains of more than one individual were mistakenly placed in the same casket and had to be separated before burial.
Responding to the report, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Indian authorities acted according to established procedures.
“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,” Jaiswal said. “In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements. All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and due regard for the dignity of the deceased.”
The Daily Mail said the mix-ups were discovered after the Inner West London coroner’s office attempted to confirm the victims’ identities through DNA matching with samples provided by family members.
A high-level inquiry into the incident is underway in both countries, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to raise the matter during talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in the UK on Tuesday evening for a two-day visit.
Modi’s visit, which includes meetings with Starmer and King Charles III, is expected to culminate in the signing of a long-anticipated free trade agreement between India and the UK.
Despite the diplomatic sensitivities, the families of the victims continue to seek answers. “The pain of losing a loved one is compounded when the process of closure is disrupted,” said a UK-based relative of one of the victims, speaking anonymously. “We need clarity, accountability, and respect.”
