Mum of Air India crash victim 'appalled' after being given wrong remains
Amanda Donaghey travelled to Ahmedabad from her home in France to bring her son, Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek's remains home.
Fiongal, 39, was returning from India on June 12 with his husband, Jamie, 45, where the couple had celebrated their wedding anniversary.
The pair were the first named victims of the crash, the first fatal incident to involve a Boeing 787, which crashed seconds after takeoff, killing all but one of the people onboard.
Having enjoyed a 'magical experience', the pair posted a video on social media captioned with the message 'Goodbye India' just before they boarded the flight.
Three days after arriving in Gujarat, Ms Donaghey, 66, was told that her son's DNA had been matched to a body found in the wreckage.
She returned to Gatwick Airport intending to bury Fiongal's body next to that of Jamie, which had already been identified and repatriated.
However, just as the family made funeral plans for Fiongal and his husband, a British coroner, having run a second DNA test, revealed that the body was not Ms Donaghey's son.
The heartbroken mother told the Sunday Times: 'We don't know what poor person is in that casket. This is an appalling thing to have happened.'
Fiongal's is not the only misidentified body from the crash.
Miten Patel said the coffin he believed contained his mother, Shobhana, 71,had been found to contain 'other remains'.
Shobana and her husband Ashok, 74, were both killed on Flight 171. Both of them were finally buried earlier this week in the UK.
Doubts still remain as to whether bodies buried in India without being DNA tested a second time were correctly identified before being laid to rest.
James Healey Pratt, an aviation lawyer at Keystone Law who is representing 20 bereaved families said that he was in contact with the Foreign Office and UK authorities.
'These families deserve answers about how this co-mingling of DNA and misidentification of remains occurred', he said.
A spokesperson for the Government said that formal identification of victims was the responsibility of Indian authorities and that it was liaising with both central and national government, while acknowledging it is an 'extremely distressing time' for those who have lost loved ones.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is focusing on the deployment of the fuel control switches to 'cutoff' mode, possibly by either the captain or first officer.
To prevent accidental activation, the switches are fitted with a stop-lock mechanism.
A preliminary report revealed that one of the pilots asked the other why he had turned the engines to cutoff mode, to which he answered he hadn't. More Trending
It remains unclear whether the pilot asking the question was the captain or the first officer, who was flying the aircraft at the time.
Former pilot and aviation expert David Learmount said that if one of the men on the flight deck had knowingly flicked the switch, he would be aware that it would cause the aircraft to crash.
He said: 'It is inevitable that deliberate action by flight crew should be considered when a disaster like AI171 occurs. The India Air Accident Investigation Bureau will undoubtedly investigate this possibility.
'But just one part of the tragedy is that, when all the flight crew die, their intentions will never be known for certain.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: British families sent wrong bodies after Air India crash
MORE: Engine of Boeing passenger plane bursts into flames during takeoff
MORE: Sole survivor of Air India crash 'still dreams he is on the plane'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Bombshell ‘confession' in murder of Brit found dead in well 12 years after vanishing on Crete holiday could crack case
Seven years after the tragic discovery, a mysterious email was sent to Cheshire Police - sparking rapid developments BODY IN THE WELL BODY IN THE WELL Bombshell 'confession' in murder of Brit found dead in well 12 years after vanishing on Crete holiday could crack case Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRIT man has allegedly confessed to the murder of a fellow tourist who vanished on holiday 20 years ago. The remains of Brit Steven Cook, 20, were found in a well in 2017 in Crete - 12 years after he vanished in 2005. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Steven Cook's remains were found in a well in Crete 12 years after vanishing in 2005 Credit: Athena Picture Agency 8 On September 1, 2005, Steven Cook was out with pals on the first night of his holiday in Malia, Crete - but disappeared without a trace Credit: PA:Press Association 8 A well was being fixed by workmen, who discovered the skeleton Credit: 8 On September 1, 2005, Steven, from Cheshire, was out with pals on the first night of his holiday in Malia, Crete - but disappeared without a trace. In February 2017, workers near a Malia cemetery found a human skeleton in an abandoned well. Steven's family has been desperate for answers ever since - but a recent update might shed some light on Steven's death. Nearly 20 years after Steven went missing, Cheshire police confirm there are developments in the investigation. The holiday was Steven's first trip abroad and, despite being with his friends, he left a pub alone at the end of a night out. The Brit was last seen in a bar asking for directions to his hotel, the Hotel Frixos, but walked off in the wrong direction at the end of a night out in the clubbing hotspot. Grieving parents Norman and Pat, both 73, from Sandbach, even put up a 7,000 euro reward for information about their missing son. It seemed that Steven had vanished off the face of the earth until 12 years later workers found a skeleton at the bottom of a well in Malia. Personal items were found with the bones, including a piece of cloth, a belt and a disposable camera. The remains were later confirmed to belong to Brit Steven Cook. Now, seven years after the discovery, cops and prosecutors in Greece are probing an alleged confession alongside UK police. According to Steven's family lawyer, Yiannis Konstantoudakis, an email was sent to Cheshire Police last year from the ex-wife of a 38-year-old British man. Tragedy in Majorca: British Tourist Drowns Near Love Island Villa She has claimed her ex confessed to killing Steven and revealed the horrifying details to her while under the influence of drugs. She described how he got into a fight with a drunk young man in Malia in 2005. After receiving a hit on the head, the victim died - and his body was thrown down a well. The unknown woman claimed to have kept handwritten diary notes from that time, and even produced a silver bracelet with two beads on the end. She claimed the piece of jewellery belonged to the victim. Steven's grieving family didn't identify the jewellery. After the missing Brit's body was discovered in 2017, it broke the 38-year-old man, his ex-wife claimed. She claims he had a mental breakdown and threatened to take his own life. He also required psychiatric evaluation, the ex-wife claimed. 8 The well is in a small structure near a cemetery in Malia Credit: Athena Picture Agency 8 A missing person poster distributed after Steven Cook vanished Credit: Athena Picture Agency 8 Police forensics officers by the outhouse where the well is located Credit: Athena Picture Agency The prosecutor in Heraklion, Crete, shared reservations about the large gap in time between the time Steven went missing and the 38-year-old Brit's ex-wife's claims - but considered them credible. She added that it was not unusual for people under the influence of drugs or alcohol to make revelations about their lives they wouldn't have otherwise said. The 38-year-old Brit has denied any involvement in Steven's death, according to local newspaper Parapolitika. When appearing before British authorities, he reportedly claimed he wasn't in Crete in 2005. He described his ex-wife's allegations as "lies". In 2005 there were no systematic passport checks for citizens of the European Union while Great Britain belonged to it. There is a recorded entry of the accused Brit into Greece in 2010 from the airport in Zakynthos. Steven's family were informed of the developments through their lawyer. Mr Konstantoudakis told The Sun of fears that the case could be thrown out in September if there are no major developments. Cheshire Police told The Sun it "is aware of the developments in the investigation into the death of Steven Cook". They added: "At this time, we are working closely with the Greek Authorities and Stevens family who are being supported by specialist officers."
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Inside hellhole jail where British Angel Delight drug smugglers face terrifying 'threats'
Three British drug smugglers have been spared the death penalty in Indonesia, but experts reveal that the conditions they will face whilst serving their sentences will be hard to endure Three British drug mules have been sentenced to one year in prison after being caught smuggling over 900 grams of cocaine into Indonesia. At first, it was feared that all three could face the death penalty after coming afoul of the country's strict anti-drug laws. However, Lisa Stocker, 39, her partner, Jon Collyer, 39, and accomplice Phineas Float, 31, were spared this fate - and could be back in the UK relatively soon after finishing their prison sentences. The trio were arrested on February 1 at Bali's international airport, after a routine search found 17 packets of Angel Delight in their luggage, in which £300,000 of cocaine was hidden. It comes after a woman, 20, was found dead on bus with 26 iPhones glued to her body. Collyer had 10 of the packets in his suitcase, and Stocker had seven, and their accomplice, Float, was due to receive the 922g of the Class A drug a few days later. All three pleaded guilty to the smuggling charges and were sentenced to one year in prison. Because of time served, they should be home by January 2026 - but the conditions they will have to endure in the meantime will likely take a "heavy psychological toll", experts have warned. All three of the drug smugglers are expected to serve their sentences in Kerkoban prison - a facility notorious for its overcrowded conditions, gang deaths, and riots. Criminologist and psychologist Alex Iszatt explains to the Mirror: "Unlike many foreign drug offenders in Indonesia who face long sentences or even the death penalty, this case is unusual for the relatively light sentencing. The court pointed to their remorse and polite behaviour as mitigating factors. But that doesn't make their time behind bars any easier. "Jonathan Collyer, Lisa Stocker, and Phineas Float have avoided execution, yes, but their one-year prison sentences will still be brutal – marked by harsh conditions, isolation, and a heavy psychological toll, even for such a short term. "Indonesian prisons, especially Bali's notorious Kerobokan facility, are overcrowded, under-resourced, and riddled with corruption." Adam Jones, Legal Expert at HD Claims, echoes these sentiments, explaining that despite the short length of their sentences, it will still be an incredibly challenging period for the three Brits. "While the couple have avoided the death penalty – which is still a legal punishment for drug trafficking in Bali – their sentence will still be extremely tough by UK standards," Adam says, adding, "Prison conditions in Bali are known to be strict and, in some cases, harsh – with overcrowding, limited access to healthcare, and hard labour not uncommon. Communication with family members is possible, but often restricted and subject to state approval, making regular contact a challenge." Inaccessible healthcare will present problems for Stocker, who is said to suffer from some health problems. "Health concerns add another layer of difficulty. Lisa reportedly has pre-existing skin cancer, and Indonesia's prisons have very limited healthcare facilities. These prisons are also hotspots for diseases like tuberculosis and dengue fever, while chronic illnesses often go untreated," says Alex. Both experts felt that being foreign nationals in the notorious jail will bring extra challenges for Stocker, Collyer, and Float. "Foreign prisoners may also face added scrutiny or stigma and often struggle to understand or access legal or procedural support compared to local inmates," Adam explains. Alex noted, "As foreigners convicted of drug offences, they occupy a precarious position inside prison. Locals may resent them, seeing them as targets, but their British nationality could also buy some protection – if they have the funds to bribe guards or gangs. "Physical violence might be less common because of their short sentences, but extortion, intimidation, and psychological pressure remain very real risks." There is a chance that the three Brits could "fare slightly better" Alex explains, but the expert pointed out that Indonesian prisons are a world away from what people from the UK might expect to find. "Foreign inmates sometimes fare slightly better, but basic necessities – clean water, medical care, even a decent place to sleep – are often in short supply. These prisons are nothing like what Brits expect. Prisoners rely heavily on money sent from family to buy essentials like food and medicine. Without that support, they're vulnerable to the system's harsh realities." Stocker and Collyer - a couple - are not likely to be together during their sentences - or have much contact, the experts explain, which could add to the psychological pressure they are under during their time in prison. "Lisa will be held separately in the women's section, while Jonathan and Phineas will be in the men's. Conjugal visits are almost unheard of in Indonesia, meaning Jonathan and Lisa may not see each other throughout their sentence," explains Alex. "Foreign nationals in Indonesian prisons are typically separated by gender, so it's very likely the pair will be placed in different facilities, with little to no direct contact. That, combined with language barriers and unfamiliar cultural expectations, can create a highly isolating experience," Adam said. There is no doubt in Adam's mind that it will be an "extremely tough" sentence for the three Brits, with the expert pointing out, "Their mental and physical resilience will be tested throughout their sentence." Alex agreed, explaining, "The mental strain is severe. After the terror of facing the death penalty, the shock of incarceration, even for a year, can cause intense anxiety and depression. Language barriers and social isolation only make it worse. "While their sentence is lenient by Indonesian standards – where drug traffickers often face decades behind bars or execution – the reality is that a year in Kerobokan will feel much longer. The one silver lining is that their sentence will be reduced by the time they've already spent in detention since February 2025, meaning they could be out by early 2026."
Metro
5 hours ago
- Metro
Airline employee used family's Peppa Pig laptop to record porn videos
A young child's lost Peppa Pig iPad was taken by an airline employee and used to film homemade porn videos, according to court filings seen by Metro. The Brewer family allegedly began seeing x-rated masturbation videos featuring an 'employee of Delta Airlines' after they left their kid's iPad on a plane at JFK Airport in New York. Explicit pictures show a man wearing a Delta uniform and name badge filming the content with the child's device. The 'horrified' family told Metro they are hoping to raise awareness of how their dream holiday to England was turned upside-down. Brooke and Tory Brewer were en route to the UK from South Carolina with their two small children on July 19, 2023, when they handed one of their kids the Peppa Pig-themed iPad. However, at a stopover in JFK Airport, they left the device in a seat pocket. Once in London, Brooke began receiving random text messages about activity on the device. The family then used the 'Find My' app to track the iPad to Jamaica, Queens, where the New York airport is located. Photos then began syncing to Tory Brewer's iCloud, starting off with selfies taken by a man 'wearing a Delta uniform and name badge.' But a month later, the family discovered a string of porn videos on their iCloud. These videos show the man 'masturbating while in his Delta uniform and wearing his Delta name badge,' this is according to court filings from July 16 this year seen by Metro. The Delta employee allegedly wrecked havoc on the family's other accounts through the iPad. The man even allegedly accessed the Brewer's iTunes account and created his own personal profile. One of the young children also discovered that the iPad had been used to hack into the family's Amazon account and create a new profile called 'Gay'. The Brewer's claim they filed multiple reports to Delta which received only generic 'no-reply' emails. The devastated family told Metro in a statement they want to protect other families from going through something similar. They said: 'This experience has been horrifying and something we never could have anticipated. 'In the rush of de-boarding, our child simply left their device on the plane. We're sharing our story in hope we can help prevent this from happening to others. 'If speaking out can spare just one family from having to endure something like this, we would be grateful.' The kids' show filled with funny cartoon animals has gone from British TV show to a global franchise. Peppa Pig has hit over 180 countries, with sales from toys, theme parks and games totally £1.3 billion in 2022. The show hit TV on Channel 5 in 2005. Its premise was 5 minute videos which take on topics with humour and without villains. Now it has been translated into over 40 languages, with Peppa becoming a icon as far out as China. The cartoon was hugely popular among children, but also among adults as a source of counterculture and memes. The government subsequently removed Peppa Pig video clips from one of China's most popular social media platforms. Peppa Pig was the most popular kids show in the US, UK and France in 2023, according to Fortune. The hype was too good for others not to get on board. US toymaker Hasbro bought the studio behind the show for a huge £3 billion. There are now Peppa Pig theme parks across the world. In Romsey, outside Southampton, Florida, Texas and Germany. The world's biggest Peppa Pig theme park is due welcome children in Shanghai in 2027. The family eventually did have the iPad returned – but without the Peppa Pig casing, the law firm representing the family told Metro. Motley Rice also supplied a photo of this iPad. The family's attorney Tola Familoni said: 'What should have been a fun family getaway was riddled with confusion and anxiety over unauthorized access to their personal devices, a breach of privacy, and the transmission of highly inappropriate, explicit video recordings sent through their child's laptop, something they never would have expected. 'This was made worse due to the lack of response from Delta. Our firm, Motley Rice, seeks to hold Delta accountable for this. 'We hope this lawsuit can help stop something like this happening to any other families who fly with Delta — or any airline in the future.' More Trending The Brewers are suing Delta and Unifi Aviation for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, harassment, and even sexual assault. Unifi Aviation is a ground handling service which is partnered with and partly owned by Delta airlines. Delta Airlines told Metro: 'Delta is aware of the complaint. The accused individual is not a Delta employee but one of a vendor company. We have zero tolerance for unlawful behavior of any kind but will decline to comment further on this pending litigation.' A Unifi Spokesperson told Metro: 'Unifi is aware of the complaint. Unifi holds all employees to high standards of professionalism and integrity, and any conduct that falls short of those standards is not tolerated.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Moment manhole shoots fire onto street as terrified pedestrians run MORE: Divorcé awarded only £325k of wife's £60m fortune wins 'gender bias' appeal MORE: New York City skyscraper shooting victims identified: Everything we know
