Air India remains became the focus of fresh attention after an inquest revealed that the body of a victim from last year’s Air India disaster was mistakenly returned to the United Kingdom under another person’s name. The case has raised new questions about the identification process that followed one of India’s deadliest aviation tragedies.
Court proceedings heard that the remains of 70-year-old Vasuben Narendrasinh Raj were sent to Britain with an incorrect identity. However, officials later corrected the mistake after carrying out DNA analysis.
Raj was among the 241 passengers who died when the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in the western Indian state of Gujarat on June 12, 2025. The aircraft also struck a medical college building, killing 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived the disaster.
An inquest into the deaths opened this week at Inner West London Coroner’s Court. Senior Coroner Professor Fiona Wilcox described the circumstances as highly unusual because authorities opened the proceedings almost a year after the crash.
The court heard that officials initially repatriated Raj’s remains to the UK under the identity of another victim. Later examinations raised concerns about the identification. As a result, Westminster Public Mortuary arranged DNA testing to verify the victim’s identity.
The test results confirmed that the remains did not belong to the person named on the original documentation. Investigators then sent the findings to authorities in India, who matched the DNA profile and confirmed that the remains belonged to Raj.
The coroner said investigators carried out extensive work behind the scenes before they could notify and contact the victim’s family. She added that officials only recently managed to establish contact with Raj’s son after completing the identification process.
Meanwhile, the court also examined the case of another victim whose identity remains unknown. Investigators discovered that the remains of an unidentified man had become mixed with those of another passenger after the crash. Forensic specialists later separated the remains and began a fresh effort to establish his identity.
Authorities have already sent palm prints and DNA samples to Indian officials for comparison. However, investigators have not yet received confirmation about the victim’s name or personal details.
The coroner expressed hope that the identification process would soon provide answers for the family involved. Until then, the case remains open.
Air India remains identification efforts have involved close cooperation between British and Indian authorities. Investigators continue to work through forensic evidence and official records linked to the tragedy.
Detective Inspector Mike Buck told the hearing that British authorities have worked alongside the British High Commission in India for many months. He said the joint effort has focused on confirming the identities of victims and ensuring families receive accurate information.
Full inquests into the deaths will take place once investigators receive the final findings from the official Indian crash investigation. Until then, authorities will continue their efforts to resolve the remaining identification cases.
The latest developments have highlighted the enormous challenges forensic teams faced after the crash. They also underline the importance of DNA testing in providing certainty for grieving families. For relatives still waiting for answers, officials say the identification process remains a top priority.
Air India remains investigations continue as authorities work to complete every outstanding case linked to the disaster.
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