The families of the victims of the Air India Flight 171 crash are facing further anguish after it emerged that the wrong bodies were sent to them. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing 241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground.
The remains of some of the deceased were incorrectly identified before being flown back to the UK, causing additional distress to the grieving families. One family had to abandon funeral plans after being informed that the coffin they received contained the body of an unknown person, not their loved one. In another instance, "commingled" remains of multiple individuals were mistakenly placed in the same casket and had to be separated before burial. Of the 261 fatalities, 52 were British nationals. So far, two cases of mistaken identity have surfaced, raising concerns that more errors may have occurred, leaving families in a state of uncertainty.
Inner West London coroner Dr. Fiona Wilcox discovered the error when she tried to verify the identities of the repatriated British victims by matching their DNA with samples provided by their families.
News of the blunder has added to the pain and frustration experienced by the families, who are already dealing with the loss of their loved ones and the complexities of the investigation into the crash. Identifying the bodies has been a difficult task due to the severe damage caused by the crash and subsequent fire. Many bodies were charred and mutilated, making visual identification impossible. DNA mapping was used to identify 32 victims, and their families were notified.
The crash investigation is ongoing, with attention focused on the aircraft's fuel control switches and the actions of the pilots. A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) indicated that the fuel control switches moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position shortly before the crash, cutting off fuel supply to both engines. Cockpit voice recordings revealed a conversation between the pilots about the fuel switches, with one pilot asking the other why he had cut off the fuel. The other pilot responded that he did not.
Conflicting media reports have led to speculation about the cause of the crash, with some suggesting pilot error or even intentional action. However, the AAIB and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have cautioned against premature conclusions and called for a thorough and transparent investigation. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has criticized the media for "selective and unverified reporting" and has sent legal notices to media outlets for suggesting pilot error without evidence.
The Air India crash has had a devastating impact on the families of the victims, who are now grappling with the added distress of the bodies being misidentified. Authorities are working to rectify the errors and provide accurate information to the families, but the process is likely to be lengthy and emotionally challenging.
