“A Mother’s Anguish: The Heartbreaking Ordeal of Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek and the Air India Crash Body Mix-Up”

On the morning of June 12, 2025, the world awoke to news of unspeakable tragedy. Air India Flight 421, en route from London to Mumbai, had plummeted from the sky near Ahmedabad, India, killing all 260 people on board. Among the victims were Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, a 39-year-old British yoga instructor and spiritual guide, and his partner Jamie, 45, a well-known creative director. The couple, beloved by friends and family in the UK and beyond, had been traveling together for a long-awaited holiday. Their lives, along with hundreds of others, were cut short in an instant.

But for those left behind, the agony was only just beginning. What followed was a saga of grief, confusion, and bureaucratic failure that has left one mother’s heart shattered—and has raised troubling questions about international disaster response and the dignity owed to the deceased.

The Immediate Aftermath: A Mother’s Desperate Search

Amanda Donaghey, Fiongal’s mother, recalls the moment she heard the news. “It was like the world stopped,” she said in an interview. “I couldn’t breathe. All I could think was, I have to get to my son.” Within hours, Amanda was on a plane to India, accompanied by her brother and a close family friend. The journey was surreal—a blur of paperwork, phone calls, and the numbing shock of loss.

Upon arriving in Ahmedabad, Amanda was confronted with the grim reality faced by so many families after mass-casualty events: the chaos of identification. The city’s hospital was overwhelmed; bodies from the crash had been brought in by the dozens, some burned beyond recognition. Officials explained that DNA testing would be required to confirm the identity of each victim.

Amanda provided a DNA sample and waited. “Those days were the longest of my life,” she said. “Every hour felt like a year.” Finally, the results came back: a match had been found. The body believed to be Fiongal’s was released to Amanda, and arrangements were made for his repatriation to the UK.

On June 20, Amanda returned home with what she believed was her son’s body. “It was a terrible comfort, but at least I thought I could bring him home, give him peace, and say goodbye properly,” she said.

A Family’s Attempt at Closure

Back in the UK, the families of Fiongal and Jamie began to plan a joint funeral—a fitting tribute to two men who had shared their lives and met their end together. The service was scheduled for July 5, and relatives and friends from across the country prepared to gather for a final farewell.

But as the date approached, Amanda found herself plagued by doubt. “Something didn’t feel right,” she admitted. “I couldn’t explain it, but I kept thinking, what if there’s been a mistake?” Her fears were not unfounded. The process in India had been rushed, and communication was hampered by language barriers and bureaucratic red tape.

Nonetheless, Amanda tried to set her worries aside, focusing on the ceremony and the outpouring of love from the community. “We just wanted to honor them, to celebrate their lives and grieve together,” she said.

The Shocking Revelation

On July 5, mere hours before the funeral was to take place, Amanda received a devastating call from the police. The results of a second DNA test, conducted in the UK as part of standard procedure, had come back. The body Amanda had brought home was not Fiongal’s.

“We were told that the remains we had prepared to bury were not my son’s,” Amanda recounted, her voice breaking. “We didn’t even know whose poor soul was in that coffin. I had suspected, but hearing it confirmed was unbearable.”

The funeral was immediately postponed. The families were plunged back into uncertainty and grief, now compounded by outrage and confusion. “It was a nightmare within a nightmare,” Jamie’s sister said. “How could this happen? How could they make such a mistake?”

The Bureaucratic Nightmare

The mix-up has exposed serious flaws in the international protocols for disaster victim identification. In the wake of the crash, Indian authorities were under immense pressure to identify and release bodies quickly, both to ease the suffering of families and to avoid overcrowding in local morgues. But in the rush, corners may have been cut.

Amanda’s experience is not unique. Several other families have reported similar issues, with bodies being misidentified and released to the wrong relatives. “We trusted the system,” Amanda said. “We did everything they asked—gave DNA, filled out forms, waited patiently. But somewhere along the line, someone failed us.”

The British government has launched an investigation, and officials have pledged to do “everything in their power” to locate Fiongal’s remains and return him to his family. But for Amanda, the assurances ring hollow. “It’s not enough to say sorry,” she insisted. “We need action. We need answers. And most of all, we need to bring my son home.”

The Human Toll

Behind the headlines and official statements lies a story of profound human suffering. Amanda describes the pain of not knowing where her son is, of being unable to mourn properly, of feeling betrayed by the very institutions meant to help her. “Every day is torture,” she said. “I wake up and remember he’s gone, and then I remember—I still don’t have him back. I can’t even visit his grave. I can’t say goodbye.”

Friends of Fiongal and Jamie have rallied around Amanda, offering support and demanding accountability. “They were beautiful souls,” one friend wrote on social media. “They deserve dignity in death, and their families deserve peace.”

The LGBTQ+ community, of which Fiongal and Jamie were proud members, has also voiced its outrage. “This is not just a bureaucratic error—it’s a violation of basic human decency,” said a spokesperson for a local advocacy group. “No family should have to go through this.”

International Response and Calls for Reform

The Air India disaster and its aftermath have sparked a broader debate about how countries handle the identification and repatriation of victims in international tragedies. Experts say that while DNA testing is the gold standard, it is only as reliable as the procedures and personnel involved.

Dr. Susan Hall, a forensic scientist specializing in disaster victim identification, explained: “Mistakes can happen when there is pressure to move quickly. But every effort must be made to ensure accuracy. Families are relying on us to get it right.”

The UK Foreign Office has called for a review of protocols and increased cooperation with Indian authorities. “We are committed to supporting the families of those lost in this tragedy,” a spokesperson said. “We will not rest until every victim is accounted for and every family has answers.”

A Plea for Compassion

For Amanda Donaghey, the fight is far from over. She has launched a petition demanding greater transparency and accountability in the handling of disaster victims. “This isn’t just about Fiongal,” she said. “It’s about every family who has ever lost someone and been denied the chance to grieve properly.”

Her message to the British and Indian governments is simple: “Do everything you can. Find my son. Bring him home. Give us the dignity we deserve.”

The Struggle for Closure

As the weeks pass, Amanda’s hope is tinged with despair. Each day brings new bureaucratic hurdles, new forms to fill out, new promises of action. But still, no sign of Fiongal.

“I keep thinking about the last time I spoke to him,” Amanda said softly. “He was so happy, so full of life. I never imagined our goodbye would be forever. Now, all I want is to lay him to rest, to give him the peace he deserves.”

She pauses, her voice trembling. “I won’t stop fighting. Not until he’s home.”

Remembering Fiongal and Jamie

In the midst of the chaos, friends and family have found solace in memories. Vigils have been held in London, with candles lit and prayers offered for Fiongal, Jamie, and all those lost in the crash. Photos and stories have flooded social media, painting a picture of two men who lived and loved deeply.

“They were light in a dark world,” one friend said. “We will never forget them.”

Moving Forward

The tragedy of Air India Flight 421 will be remembered not only for the lives lost, but for the lessons learned. Amanda Donaghey’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic failure—and of the strength and resilience of those left behind.

As the investigation continues and the search for Fiongal’s remains goes on, Amanda’s plea echoes in the hearts of all who have suffered loss: “Honor the dead. Help the living. And never, ever let this happen again.”