UK Families Await DNA Match Updates After Air India 171 Crash Misidentifications

British families grieving the loss of 52 nationals in the Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, 2025, are anxiously awaiting DNA match confirmations following reports of misidentified remains, their legal team at Keystone Law said. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into Ahmedabad’s B.J. Medical College hostel moments after takeoff, killing 241 of 242 passengers and crew and 19 on the ground. High-level India-UK talks, including discussions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UK visit last week, have addressed the mishandling, with hopes of resolving the issue.

Keystone Law’s aviation partner, James Healy-Pratt, highlighted that two of 12 caskets repatriated to the UK were misidentified—one containing a stranger’s body, another with commingled remains—uncovered by London coroner Dr. Fiona Wilcox’s DNA tests. With a 15% error rate, Healy-Pratt estimates up to 40 of the 260 victims’ remains could be mislabeled, though many have already been cremated or buried, complicating verification. “This adds indescribable distress to already traumatized families,” he told PTI, urging transparency from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) insists remains were handled “with utmost professionalism” per established protocols, and it is working with UK authorities to address concerns. The AAIB’s preliminary report cites fuel cutoff switches moving to the “off” position post-takeoff as the crash cause, but withheld cockpit voice recorder details, prompting Healy-Pratt to demand clarity to curb speculation. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, with “expert status” in the probe, is reviewing the findings.

Also Read: Ahmedabad Crash: AAIB to Release Initial Report Soon

Families are also seeking details on a reported Rs 500-crore Tata Group fund, offering Rs 1 crore per victim as ex gratia support, separate from legal compensation. With 215 victims identified and 198 bodies released by June 19, the intense 1,500°C crash fire complicated DNA matching, delaying closures. Legal action against Air India and Boeing is under consideration in UK courts, as families demand accountability for both the crash and the identification errors.

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