Ahmedabad: In a distressing incident reminiscent of a nightmare, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad witnessed a shocking mishap involving the mishandling of a deceased individual’s remains. Zeel Khokhra, a young man who tragically passed away in Australia, had his body erroneously handed over to a third party under the guise of spare parts consignment, sparking outrage and calls for accountability from his bereaved family and regulatory authorities.
The victim, Zeel Khokhra, met an untimely demise while swimming at Victoria Beach in Australia on March 17. Despite efforts to rescue him, Zeel tragically succumbed to the incident, leaving behind a grieving family in Surendranagar, Gujarat. Zeel, a student at La Trobe University in Melbourne, had been studying since May 2023 to support his family financially and was set to return home to his loved ones.
However, on March 27, 2024, chaos ensued at the Ahmedabad airport when an Air India cargo flight transported Zeel’s body from Australia. Despite his family members’ presence at the airport to receive his remains, they were shocked to learn that Zeel’s body had been mistakenly handed over to a stranger, misidentified as spare parts destined for a company in Mumbai. This grave error occurred despite the coffin containing Zeel’s body being clearly marked and designated for transport by J.B. Dials Funerals.
The repercussions of this distressing mishap have reverberated throughout the aviation community, with blame being squarely placed on the Ahmedabad Airport Authority for the egregious oversight. In response, the family of the deceased has lodged formal complaints with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airport Authority of India, demanding stringent action against the responsible airport staff for their failure to verify the consignment.
Although the airport authorities have acknowledged the incident, stating that information was received by the airport police, the family opted not to formally report the matter to the authorities. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that Zeel’s remains have since been transported to his native place by his family members, marking the conclusion of this distressing ordeal.
