A startling and deeply concerning revelation has emerged from the UK investigation into the tragic Ahmedabad Air India crash, with a senior British judicial officer reporting that “dangerously high” levels of toxic chemicals were present in the bodies of victims repatriated to the United Kingdom.
Professor Fiona Wilcox, leading the probe into the deaths of 53 British nationals killed in the June 12, 2024, crash, issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report on Tuesday, December 2.
Mortuary Staff Exposed to Extreme Hazards
The report detailed that when the coffins of the deceased passengers were opened at London’s Westminster public mortuary, staff were exposed to alarming levels of hazardous substances.
The discovery was made after the wrappings on the bodies were removed. Wilcox’s report explicitly stated that “dangerously high” levels of formalin—a highly toxic chemical often used as a preservative—were present. Furthermore, hazardous levels of carbon monoxide and cyanide were also detected inside the morgue atmosphere.
“Levels of formalin were found to be dangerously high, and carbon monoxide and cyanide were also detected in the mortuary at dangerous levels following opening of the coffins and unwrapping of the bodies of the deceased persons who had been repatriated,” the report stated.
Preservation Method Creates ‘Serious Risk’
The chemical hazard stemmed from the method of preservation and transport. Wilcox noted that the bodies were wrapped and returned in lined coffins while still containing what appeared to be a concentrated 40% formalin solution.
The concentration and method of packaging created an immediate danger for mortuary staff upon opening the coffins. Expert evidence warned that formalin contains formaldehyde, a volatile and carcinogenic substance, which, at high exposure, can cause severe respiratory and metabolic complications, and potentially even death. The report also indicated that the toxic carbon monoxide and cyanide may have been produced by the chemical’s interaction with heat/light and decomposition-related ammonia, respectively.
Professor Wilcox emphasized that her report’s findings were so critical they immediately invoked the Regulation 28 duty, preempting the start of formal inquests, because the preservation methods created a “serious risk” for all personnel handling the remains.
The report called for immediate corrective action from the UK Departments of Health and Social Care and Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure such hazardous exposure does not recur, warning that awareness of formalin dangers remains inadequate across UK mortuaries.
The Air India Boeing 787, bound for London, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people on board, as well as 19 people on the ground. The lone survivor was Vishwas Kumar Ramesh.