Families of Air India Victims Demand Full-Body Remains Amid Allegations of Fragment-Only Repatriation
Grieving families of victims from a recent air crash in India have raised serious allegations against aviation authorities, claiming they were handed only bone fragments in sealed body bags instead of full-bodied remains of their loved ones.
The controversy has sparked national outrage, reigniting painful memories of past tragedies and raising questions over how crash victims’ remains are handled in the country.
The accusations follow the aftermath of a devastating air disaster that claimed numerous lives. Families say they were not given the opportunity to bid proper farewell through culturally significant rites, as the remains provided were insufficient or incomplete.
“They gave us a sealed bag, and when we opened it, we found only fragments — not a body,” one distraught relative told reporters. “How do we perform last rites for bones we can’t even identify?”
This is not the first time Indian authorities have been accused of mishandling crash victims’ remains.
The 2010 Air India Express crash in Mangalore, which killed 158 people, left a trail of anguish after authorities failed to identify some bodies accurately.
In that case, DNA analysis was used to try and match remains with claimants, but 12 bodies remained unclaimed and were buried en masse despite ongoing protests from family members.
Among the cases was that of Sujata Survase, a young flight attendant. Her father lamented being denied the chance to conduct her final rites, as the remains were cremated without his involvement.
For many Indian families, such practices are viewed as not only disrespectful but spiritually unacceptable.
In India’s diverse cultural landscape, performing final rites with the complete body — or at least identifiable remains — holds deep spiritual significance.
For Hindus, cremation of the whole body is essential for the soul’s transition. For Muslims and Christians, proper burial with dignity is a sacred obligation. The current incident, where only bone fragments were reportedly delivered, has thus stirred public anger and led to calls for sweeping reforms.
“It’s not just about grief — it’s about spiritual closure. They robbed us of that too,” said another family member.
In response, families of the victims are demanding:
• Return of full-bodied remains wherever possible, or clear communication if remains are unrecoverable.
• Transparency in identification processes, particularly in the use of DNA testing.
• Improved recovery operations to preserve bodies intact during rescue efforts.
• Cultural training for disaster officials to ensure families are treated with dignity and empathy.
Legal experts have also begun weighing in, suggesting the introduction of binding protocols for the respectful handling and identification of human remains in disaster situations.
Aviation and disaster management officials have acknowledged the complaints and indicated that an investigation is underway.
A senior official at the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the government is considering revising its protocols to ensure more humane and culturally appropriate practices in the aftermath of such tragedies.
“We understand the pain and frustration of the families,” the official said. “We will evaluate all current procedures and look into ways to strengthen our response framework in line with international standards and cultural sensitivities.”
As families continue to demand answers and accountability, advocacy groups and civil society organizations have also entered the fray, urging the Indian government to prioritize dignity and transparency in all disaster responses.
The tragedy and its mishandling have exposed critical flaws in the country’s post-crisis management system. For the bereaved, justice now goes beyond compensation — it is about reclaiming the right to grieve properly, to honour the dead fully, and to ensure that no other family endures the same indignity.
