Miten Patel, a 32‑year‑old dentist from the UK, flew to Ahmedabad after his parents were on a trip back from a family visit.
On 12 June their Air India flight AI171 crashed moments after take‑off, killing 260 people, including Ashok and Shobhana Patel.
The Patel family waited a month for their parents’ remains to be returned; the cremation was delayed because the casket contained bones that turned out not to belong to Shobhana alone.
Police told Miten that the remains had been mixed with those of an unidentified man, and that it would take weeks to separate the bodies and confirm identities.
Further investigation by the UK coroner sent DNA samples to India, but no name has yet surfaced for the missing male. The case is currently under an inquest.
The disaster highlighted shortcomings in India’s disaster identification procedures; a 2024 NDMA guideline now stresses the need for better DNA and dental databases. Families say they have suffered a lack of transparency and accountability.
Other families have also faced mistaken identity; the UK has known cases where the wrong remains were returned.
Miten continues to advocate for clearer processes, saying the battle for justice is vital to honour his parents and all the victims.
