The Government of India on Wednesday addressed concerns raised by a UK media report that claimed the families of British victims in the June 12 Air India crash were mistakenly sent the wrong remains of their loved ones.
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Indian authorities have been working in close coordination with their UK counterparts from the outset to address these sensitive matters.
“We have seen the report and have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “Following the tragic crash, the identification of victims was carried out in accordance with established protocols and technical procedures. All mortal remains were handled with the utmost professionalism and with full respect for the dignity of the deceased.”
Jaiswal confirmed that discussions are ongoing with UK authorities to resolve any outstanding concerns.
The Daily Mail report alleged that at least two instances of mistaken identity have surfaced, with some families receiving commingled remains. The report further claimed that a coroner in Inner West London, Dr. Fiona Wilcox, initiated DNA verification after discrepancies were suspected in the repatriated remains of several British nationals.
Aviation lawyer James Healy-Pratt, representing multiple British families, stated that at least 12 British victims had been repatriated and that his team is awaiting formal responses from Air India and its emergency response partner, Kenyon International Emergency Services.
Air India Flight AI 171 Crash
Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12. The tragedy claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board, along with 19 individuals on the ground.
All victims were formally identified, and remains were returned to their respective families for last rites.
In a related development, Air India announced the completion of a precautionary inspection of the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanism on its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, following directives issued by India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). No anomalies were found.
The DGCA’s order came after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report indicating that the fuel supply to both engines had been cut off within a one-second interval, creating immediate confusion in the cockpit and contributing to the crash.
Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost subsidiary, which also operates Boeing 737 aircraft, confirmed compliance with the inspection order. Other Indian carriers including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have been instructed to undertake similar checks.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018 had issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) highlighting the potential disengagement of the FCS locking feature on select Boeing aircraft, including 787 and 737 models. However, the absence of an airworthiness directive suggested that it was not deemed an immediate safety threat at the time.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.