India Working with UK After Report of Misidentified Bodies in Air India Crash

India on Wednesday responded to reports of mishandling in the identification of British victims from the Air India Flight 171 crash, saying it is in close coordination with the UK to address all concerns.

The tragic crash occurred on June 12, when a Boeing 787 aircraft heading from Ahmedabad to London lost power and went down shortly after takeoff. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. Nineteen people on the ground were also killed. Among the deceased were 52 British nationals.

The *Daily Mail* reported on Tuesday that the remains of at least two British victims were wrongly identified before being sent back to the UK. In one instance, a family was reportedly told to halt funeral plans after discovering the coffin did not contain their relative’s body. In another case, the remains of more than one victim were mistakenly placed in a single casket and had to be separated before burial could proceed.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal acknowledged the report, stating, “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 emphasized that Indian authorities followed established procedures during the identification process: “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 with due regard for the dignity of the deceased.”

Jaiswal added that cooperation between Indian and British officials is ongoing to resolve any remaining issues.

The misidentification reportedly came to light during checks by the Inner West London coroner, who was verifying the bodies by matching DNA samples with those provided by families. A joint investigation into the matter is said to be underway in both countries.

The timing of these revelations is especially delicate, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a visit to the UK and Maldives. During his stop in London on July 23–24, he is expected to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III. With emotions still raw among the families affected, it’s likely that the issue of misidentified remains will come up during Modi’s discussions with UK leaders.