Gujarat government on Saturday asked families of those killed the aircraft crash in Ahmedabad to coordinate with Air India for transporting bodies of their kin to another state or country. The state government said it arrange local transport, free of cost, for families wishing to take their deceased relatives back home by road.

After nine DNA samples of relatives matched with the samples taken from the victims, the Gujarat government handed over the first body on Saturday evening.

“Free ambulance service is available for those who wish to take their deceased relatives back home by road. For Air Transport: If relatives wish to transfer the body to another state or country by air, they should coordinate with Air India in advance. Air India will provide all necessary help in this process,” read a directive issued by the government.

Of the 242 passengers on board the Boeing 787 aircraft that crashed near Ahmedabad airport on June 12, a total of 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, one was a Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals.

Once the DNA matching process is complete, the government stated that the Civil Hospital will contact the relatives of the deceased — who provided their DNA samples — on their registered phone numbers. “Relatives should respond only to phone calls made by an authorized person from the designated numbers of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. The phone call will notify them about the matching of the DNA and the time to come to collect the body,” the statement added.

The government also gave out a list of documents which needed to be produced for claiming the bodies.

“The closest relative who provided the DNA sample should come in person. If this is not possible, another close family member may come instead. The person collecting the body must bring the following documents to establish their and the deceased’s identity: the person’s Aadhaar card or any other government-approved photo ID (original); the deceased’s Aadhaar, Passport, or Voter ID (original or a copy); a document proving their relation to the deceased; the phone number that was registered during the submission of the DNA sample,” the government added. If a close relative is unable to come in person and instead authorises someone else to collect the body, they must also provide a proper authorization letter alongside their documents.

The hospital in turn will prepare a file for the relatives of the deceased, which will include the post-mortem (PM) report, death certificate, and all other necessary legal documents.

If there is a lack of documents proving the relationship or the identity of the deceased, after the phone call from the hospital, the relatives should contact their local Mamlatdar, Collector, or Provincial Officer for guidance. Relatives have been asked to report in person at the control room set up in D-2 Block of Civil Hospital. 

Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD of Air India in a video statement on a social media platform said, “The process of reuniting the next of kin with their loved ones and personal effects has begun. Our teams are working closely with the families and authorities to help the reunification process and where appropriate, with repatriation. This is an emotional process and we ask that families be given space.”

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Published on June 14, 2025