Air India Crash Leaves Families Searching for Answers
One year after the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, many families are still waiting for answers about their loved ones. The tragedy claimed 260 lives, including 241 passengers and crew members and 19 people on the ground. One passenger survived.
Among those affected is Miten Patel, whose parents, Ashok and Shobhana Patel, died when the aircraft crashed just 32 seconds after take-off on 12 June while travelling to London.
Miten travelled to Ahmedabad with his brother to help authorities identify their parents. The family provided dental records and blood samples to support the identification process. Although he had never visited the city before, his knowledge of Gujarati helped him navigate the difficult situation.
Identification Errors Deepen Family Trauma
More than a week after the crash, authorities returned the remains of Miten’s parents to the United Kingdom. However, the family later received shocking news.
Human Remains Found in Shobhana Patel’s Coffin
Police informed Miten that a CT scan had detected additional skeletal remains inside his mother’s coffin. Further investigations revealed that Shobhana Patel’s remains had been mixed with those of an unidentified man.
Miten asked officials to separate the remains before the family proceeded with funeral arrangements. As a result, the family delayed Shobhana’s cremation and postponed Ashok Patel’s final rites so they could honour both parents together.
Unknown Victim Still Unidentified
A year later, investigators have still not identified the man whose remains were found in Shobhana Patel’s coffin.
UK Coroner Fiona Wilcox confirmed that authorities sent DNA samples and palm prints to India in an effort to identify him. However, they have not yet received confirmation of his identity. read more
She described the case as highly unusual because coroners rarely open investigations so long after a person’s death.
Air India Crash Investigation Highlights Recovery Challenges
The scale of the Air India crash created major challenges for emergency responders and forensic teams.
Severe Damage Made Identification Difficult
The aircraft crashed into accommodation used by medical students, scattering wreckage across approximately 37,000 square metres—an area equal to five football pitches.
Emergency workers faced extreme heat, widespread destruction and difficult recovery conditions. Witnesses reported that some seatbelts were too hot to touch during rescue efforts.
Burn Damage Complicated Victim Identification
Forensic specialist Dr Deepak Venkatesh, who assisted with the identification process, said the severity of the crash made identifying victims extremely challenging.
According to India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), around 90% of victims suffered severe burn injuries. The damage destroyed fingerprints, facial features and other important identifiers normally used during forensic investigations.
Air India Crash Leads to Changes in Identification Guidelines
The NDMA later used lessons from the disaster to update its victim identification guidelines.
New Recommendations for Future Disasters
The updated guidance highlighted weaknesses in India’s disaster victim identification system. Officials noted that forensic laboratories became overwhelmed by the large number of DNA samples submitted after the crash.
The report recommended expanding regional DNA testing facilities and increasing the use of dental records, which experts consider one of the fastest and most reliable identification methods. know more
Dr Venkatesh described these changes as an important lesson learned from the tragedy.
Other Families Also Report Identification Problems
The Patel family is not alone in raising concerns about the identification process.
Amanda Donaghey Still Searching for Her Son
Amanda Donaghey, whose son Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek died in the crash, later discovered that the remains returned to her belonged to another victim, Vasuben Narendrasinh Raj.
She continues searching for her son’s remains while authorities work to resolve the case.
Lawyer James Healey-Pratt, who represents both families, said relatives deserve transparency and accountability despite the challenges created by the scale of the disaster.
Families Continue Seeking Accountability
Investigators and forensic teams continue examining the circumstances surrounding the victim identification process.
For Miten Patel, the search for answers remains deeply personal.
Grief Remains One Year Later
Miten says he continues to fight for accountability not only for his parents but also for every family affected by the Air India crash.
He often spends time watching videos of his parents and reflecting on their memories. He hopes his efforts will help ensure lessons are learned and similar mistakes are prevented in future disasters.
Air India Crash Families Await Closure
Although a year has passed since the tragedy, many families still seek closure. They continue to wait for answers about identification errors, accountability and the handling of victims’ remains.
The Air India crash remains one of the most devastating aviation disasters in India’s history, and for many relatives, the journey toward justice and closure is far from over.