In a serious lapse, the body of a youth brought from Australia to Ahmedabad on an Air India flight was handed over to the claimant of another piece of cargo at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport.
The family of the youth was enraged on learning about the mistake, sources said. The youth, from Surendranagar, had died in Australia and his body was brought to Ahmedabad by an Air India passenger flight from Sydney to Ahmedabad via Delhi.
The flight arrived in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Thursday, earlier than scheduled. The youth’s family had not been informed about the arrival of the flight carrying their son’s body.
“When the family arrived to claim their son’s mortal remains, they learnt that the casket had been mistakenly handed over to the claimant of another piece of cargo,” a source in SVPI said. The mix-up came to light hours after the flight landed.
Error rectified
It was learnt that the other claimant arrived at the city airport for a similar-looking piece of cargo and was mistakenly handed over the casket.
“As soon as the ground handlers at the SVPI airport learned about the mistake, the cargo claimant, who represents a city-based company, was contacted. The body was later brought back to the airport and handed over to the family after the necessary procedure was completed,” said sources.
Air India and Adani Airport sources could not be contacted. The alleged incident occurred at the domestic terminal of the airport.
