Body mix-ups discovered among Air India crash victims in UK

British authorities have uncovered disturbing errors in the handling of the remains of victims from the recent Air India plane crash, with at least two confirmed cases of misidentified bodies being sent to grieving families in the United Kingdom.

According to a report by Metro, the remains of some of the 261 victims of the crash were incorrectly identified prior to repatriation. In one instance, a family preparing for a funeral was informed that the body in the casket did not belong to their loved one. In another, the remains of two separate individuals were mistakenly placed in a single coffin.

The revelations have prompted an urgent review of all returned bodies. Dr Fiona Wilcox, the coroner for West London, has ordered DNA testing of every repatriated body to confirm their identities, ensuring they match samples provided by the families.

Authorities have so far confirmed two cases of mistaken identity, though investigations are ongoing and the number may rise. The incident has added further distress to families already devastated by the loss of their loved ones.

On 12 June 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, slamming into the grounds of B.J. Medical College. The disaster claimed the lives of 241 people onboard, including 52 British nationals returning home, and killed an additional 19 people on the ground. Another 67 individuals on the ground were seriously injured. 

By Vugar Khalilov