A tragic mishap following the Air India crash of June 12 has left families reeling, particularly for those receiving misidentified remains. Reflecting on this harrowing experience, Arwen Greenlaw, sister of victim Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, expressed her family's profound distress at having received the wrong body following the crash that took 270 lives in total. The incident occurred shortly after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad bound for London Gatwick.
In her conversation with BBC Newsnight, Greenlaw highlighted her quest for dignity and closure, stating that the mix-up has "added trauma" to an already devastating situation. Fiongal and his husband Jamie, who ran a spiritual wellness center in Ramsgate, were among the 242 passengers onboard. Arwen lamented that the chaos at the crash site and the perceived lack of forensic procedures contributed to the confusion.
The UK's Foreign Office responded, noting that they continue to support the affected families through dedicated caseworkers while emphasizing that official identification is handled by Indian authorities. Greenlaw recounted her family’s ordeal, likening the experience of losing Fiongal to enduring a second loss upon realizing they had received remains of two different individuals.
As investigations unfold, a preliminary report suggested that fuel to the plane's engines was cut off just moments after takeoff, prompting urgent queries about the cause. The complexity of the situation is further compounded by multiple cases of misidentification, with families encountering similar experiences of receiving incorrect remains.
With a final report into the crash expected in a year, families remain in anticipation. Arwen expressed her hopes that dignity would be restored to her brother's memory, returning to her family the peace they desperately seek. Simultaneously, the Indian foreign ministry affirmed their commitment to handling the identification process with utmost professionalism, ensuring respect for the deceased's dignity.
As memorial services continue to honor the victims of this tragedy, the growing outcry from families signals a push for deeper scrutiny and reform in procedural handling during such critical incidents.
