At least two bodies of British citizens were incorrectly repatriated after the airplane crash involving the AI 171 flight of Air India last month, according to lawyers representing relatives of the victims. The case involves the.
Lawyer James Health-Pratt, an international aviation expert, told British news agency PA Media that there were errors in identifying the bodies, and remains exchanged were sent to the United Kingdom.
In one case, a London coroner found that DNA of different victims had been mixed in a single coffin. The allegations raise doubts about the procedures adopted by the Indian authorities during the identification and repatriation of the bodies.
Dr. Fiona Shaw “detected anomalies in the DNA” when the bodies were repatriated for the first time, said Health-Pratt.
“My understanding was that the mixture was right at the beginning, which warned Dr. Wilcox to the fact that she needed to be 100% assiduous in verifying the identification of the remains that arrived,” the lawyer added.
“She then managed to determine that a particular loved one was not who the family thought,” he added.
All except one of the 242 passengers and crew died on June 12, after the plane lost strength and crashed into a populated neighborhood in Ahmedabad, west of India.
The aircraft to London had barely left the track at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when he lost control and fell into the accommodation of BJ Medical College and Hospital – also killing 19 people on the ground.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the definitive cause of the accident, but a preliminary report suggested that them depriving power engines.
In an audio recording of the black box, it is heard, according to the assessment of the Department of India aircraft accidents investigation, published last week. The other pilot replies no.
Moments later, the switches were called to reconnect the fuel supply. Both engines were rewired and one began to “progress to recovery”, but it was too late to stop the tumultuous descent from the plane.
Of the victims on board, at least 169 were Indian citizens, seven were Portuguese and one era Canadian. The only survivor was Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, one of the 53 passengers in the UK that day, who reported the local media escaped a small space near the door next to his seat.
“Deeply disturbed”
The family members of three victims said they were “deeply disturbed” with the news on Wednesday (23), asking the authorities to have “care, coordination and respect”.
“Recent developments only confirmed what many feared: what serious errors may have been made and that the dignity and rights of the victims and their families were not safeguarded as they should,” they said in a statement.
Akeel Nanabawa’s relatives, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and four -year -old daughter Sara Nanabawa added that although they are “confident” of having received the “right bodies”, they are still “deeply concerned with what it means to other families who are still sure and a outcome.”
“This is not just a personal tragedy; it is a collective tragedy,” said family members.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India has been “working closely with the United Kingdom from the moment these concerns and questions” have been raised, according to a spokesman.
Authorities identified the victims using “established protocols and technical requirements,” spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in an X post on Wednesday.
“All remains were treated with maximum professionalism and due respect for the dignity of the deceased,” added Jaiswal.
“We continue to work with the UK authorities to address any concerns related to this issue,” he added.
The case was following a meeting in London between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and British Keir Starmer during the signing of a historical free trade agreement between the two countries.
Health-Prat, who requires “financial justice” for families, said he believed the allegations will be on this week’s negotiations agenda.
