BBC News
InstagramA woman whose brother died in an Air India accident and then got the wrong body, he said that “trauma” has been added to her family.
Fiongal Greenlav-Make, 39, and her husband Jamie, 45, were among 242 people in flight, crashed soon after leaving for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad on 12 June.
His sister Arvain Greenlav told BBC Newsnight His family was looking for accountability for those who misled their brother’s remains along with dignity and closure.
The Foreign Office stated that it continues to support the families affected by the Air India accident with “dedicated Cassworkers”, saying that “the formal identity of bodies is a case for Indian authorities”.
Cambridge’s Ms. Greenlav told the BBC that she wanted “dignity” for her brother and “shut for the family.
“If this is not possible – because the worst situation is that he has been cremated as someone else – then we have to know that to move forward,” he said.
“Somebody mislead the remains – who has added trauma.”
He said that it seems that the scene of the accident was “lack of forensic protocol”, and the site “was not closed for 48 hours”.
“This can’t just happen again,” he said.
“I think the whole family was and are still completely in mistrust because it is the things that are for news and other people. It was shocking and misleading.”
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 230 passengers and 12 crew, including 169 Indian citizens, 53 Britain, seven Portuguese citizens and a Canadian.
Many people living in a residential neighborhood near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, where the jets came down, were also killed, the number of at least 270 was the number of casualties confirmed. It included many medical students in the area.
An initial investigative 15 page report Published last month said that the fuel of the aircraft was cut by fuel after a few seconds of the take-off.
The circumstances around how or why have happened remain unclear. Said in the report Cockpit voice recording recoveredOne of the pilots can be heard asking “Why did you bite?” – To which the other pilot replied that he “did not do so”.
A final report in the accident is expected to be in 12 months.
In the days after the deadly accident, Ms. Greenlav said that her mother flew to India as part of the formal identity process.
“It was an chaotic scene from her words,” Ms. Greenlav recalled. “She went directly to the hospital to give a blood sample, we were told that it would be up to 72 hours to get a positive identity – and it was about the right.
“She returned from India, which she thought that her son had remains. It has been equal to losing her twice.
“Mam saw the situation there, broke the smell, looked at the sightseeing, looked at the accident site. I think it was more real for him to be able to see it.”
Ms. Greenlav reported that when the casket was back, it was tested and found “the remains of two separate people”.
As a result, a coroner in London decided to conduct further tests and the family was able to get some DNA from Fiugal’s headphones that proved that the remains were not his.
“I would say that we go up and down with emotions,” Ms. Greenlav said when asked how the family is feeling.
“We are not naive, we understand that this must have been a terrible situation and my heart comes out for those who clarified – but we know that the remains of the fin were found.
“At that point you will expect the remains to come home. If he had not matched, we could have received our head around him.”
EPASri Greenlav-Max founded a wellness foundry at Ramsgate in Kent in 2018, joining her husband as a managing director after five years.
He was also due to hosting workshops at the Ramsgate Pride Event in June.
Before riding in an Air India flight, the pair posted a video on their last night on social media in the country, where Mr. Greenlav-Mix reflected on a “magical experience”.
“They were amazing,” said Ms. Greenlav.
“Two parts of a soul. They lived together, they got married and they died together. They had two parts of one.”
The Foreign Office told the BBC that in order to support the coronial process, there is a contact with the Gujarati government and the Government of India on behalf of the Senior West London senior coroner.
A Foreign Office spokesman said, “We understand that it is a very disturbing time for families, and our thoughts remain with them.”
“Foreign office employees continue to support families and loved ones in accordance with our consular remit.
“We have allocated the dedicated Cassworkers dedicated to each family who desire one.”
India’s Foreign Ministry had earlier stated: “In view of the tragic accident, the concerned authorities identified the victims according to the established protocols and technical needs.
“All mortal remains were handled with extreme professionalism and with the appropriate relationship for the dignity of the deceased.
“We are continue to work with UK officials on addressing any concern related to this issue.”
