British families who lost relatives in the Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12 are awaiting confirmation of DNA matches of the remains, with their legal team calling for urgency in the process. The London-bound plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing all 241 passengers and crew, including 52 British nationals.

Keystone Law, a London-based legal firm representing several of the bereaved families, has been working with aviation experts since the crash. The firm has highlighted the need for greater transparency and open communication from the Indian authorities and governments. James Healy-Pratt, Aviation Partner at Keystone Law, said that high-level talks have occurred between the UK and Indian governments because of international media coverage. It is believed that some matched DNA remains may have been located in India, but confirmation is still awaited.

Concerns have arisen due to reports of misidentification and mishandling of remains during repatriation. Of a sample of 12 caskets repatriated to the UK, two were found to be incorrectly identified. This has led to worries that as many as 40 sets of remains may have been mislabelled, mishandled, and misidentified. Keystone Law has described this as an unacceptable error rate of 15 percent. Many of the families' loved ones have already been cremated.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded to the reports, stating that all mortal remains were handled with the utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased. The MEA has also said that they are continuing to work with the UK authorities to address any concerns related to this issue.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK last week, the Air India plane crash was discussed during bilateral talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has "expert status" in the Indian safety investigation and is reviewing the preliminary report's findings. The UK-based families have also called for expert representation in the India-led investigatory process.

The legal team is urging both governments and investigative bodies to prioritize open communication with the families. Many families are still awaiting the return and identification of their relatives' remains more than seven weeks after the crash. Families are also seeking details on a proposed ₹500 crore Tata support fund. They deserve to get details of that support urgently, as legal proceedings take time in India, England, and the United States.