Following the Air India plane crash that claimed 260 lives, Miten Patel reveals that wrong remains were returned alongside his mother's body, prompting fears about others' identities. While India's foreign ministry asserts that protocols were followed with dignity, mixed reports of remains' mismanagement have surfaced.
Air India Crash: Family Claims Mixed Remains Returned Amid Concerns
Air India Crash: Family Claims Mixed Remains Returned Amid Concerns
Miten Patel raises alarming questions regarding misidentification of remains after his mother's tragic death in the Air India crash.
The son of Shobhana Patel, one of the victims of the Air India plane crash, has made a troubling revelation regarding the handling of remains. Miten Patel reported to BBC News that upon the return of his mother’s body to the UK, "other remains" were discovered within her casket, leading him to question the integrity of the identification process. "How many others are in there?" he asks, reflecting on the anxiety that such a mix-up brings.
The unfortunate incident occurred when the flight, which took off from Ahmedabad, India, tragically crashed soon after departure on June 12, resulting in 260 fatalities. Miten, whose father Ashok Patel also lost his life in the crash, expressed his deep frustration over the identification errors, despite recognizing the immense pressure faced by officials during such tragic circumstances. He stated, "People were tired and there was a lot of pressure. But there has to be a level of responsibility that you're sending the right bodies to the UK."
Reports from The Daily Mail have surfaced detailing similar cases, alleging erroneous returns of remains to families in the UK following the disaster. One instance allegedly involved an entire wrong body sent to a family, while another case described the placement of multiple remains in a single casket.
In response to these haunting claims, India's foreign ministry has acknowledged the matter. They stated, "We are aware of the report and have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention." Further, the ministry maintained that all remains were treated with "utmost professionalism" and conducted in accordance with established protocols to ensure the dignity of the deceased was upheld.
As investigations continue into the Air India crash, many are left in distress over the sensitive handling of victims’ remains and the potential complications arising from identification errors, underscoring essential conversations around accountability in such tragedies.
