London: Mortuary workers in London were exposed to “dangerously high” levels of toxic chemicals while handling bodies repatriated to the United Kingdom after the crash of a London-bound Air India flight in Ahmedabad, a senior coroner has reported.
Professor Fiona Wilcox, overseeing the inquests into the deaths of 53 British nationals on board the Boeing 787 that crashed on June 12, issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report on Tuesday. The document highlights that bodies sent to Westminster Public Mortuary contained high concentrations of formalin, a chemical preservative that can cause severe respiratory irritation at elevated levels.
“No inquests have yet been heard. This report is based upon my duty under Regulation 28 being engaged in respect of the hazard presented to all mortuary users from the method in which bodies… were preserved and returned,” Dr Wilcox stated.
The report noted that formalin levels were “dangerously high”, with carbon monoxide and cyanide also detected in the mortuary following the opening of coffins and unwrapping of remains. It warned of an under-appreciation of the dangers of formalin exposure in mortuaries across the UK.
The Air India plane crashed 32 seconds after take-off, falling from an altitude of 600 feet, killing all but one of the 242 passengers and crew, along with 19 people on the ground. The sole survivor was Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin.
Following the crash, several bodies were repatriated to the Westminster mortuary wrapped and saturated in formalin — reportedly up to 40 per cent concentration — inside lined coffins.
“On opening the coffins, it became apparent that there was a significant chemical hazard from the formalin,” the report states.
Expert input was sought, and protective measures were introduced, including environmental monitoring, breathing apparatus, and other equipment, to manage the toxic environment. While formalin is widely used for the preservation of human remains, the coroner flagged that precautionary systems are not routinely adequate, especially in cases of international repatriation.
The report further explains that formalin contains formaldehyde, a volatile carcinogenic substance associated with acute myeloid leukaemia and capable of causing metabolic acidosis, bronchospasm, pulmonary oedema and death. Exposure to heat or light can cause it to release carbon monoxide, while contact with ammonia during decomposition may generate cyanide, both highly toxic.
It warns that mortuary staff may lack suitable equipment to handle bodies with high chemical contamination, putting workers at risk, including risk of death.
The report calls on authorities to take preventive action, with the UK Departments of Health and Social Care and Housing, Communities and Local Government required to respond within 56 days.
A British government spokesperson offered condolences, saying:
"Our deepest sympathies are with the families of all those who died in this tragic crash. This is a deeply shocking case. We respond to, and learn from, all prevention of future death reports and will consider this fully before formally responding."
With PTI inputs