What is the Procedure for Transporting a Dead Body by Air?

When a loved one dies, it’s a period of great bereavement and loss, especially if it’s a sudden death when a person is travelling or is on vacation. Not many people know the dead body transport process to the home city or to the final resting place to perform the last rites in front of family and friends. You can transport the dead body through air or road, but in case of an international transfer or a domestic transfer to a far off location, road transfer is not feasible or practical. In such a case, transportation by air is done. Below we look at the few procedures for taking dead body in flight.

Obtaining the death certificate

Getting a death certificate that states the cause of death, issued by a hospital or the doctor concerned is the first most essential part of the transportation of the dead body. It is advisable to take out a few photocopies of the death certificate as this would be needed in every step of transportation by air. If the death has been caused by unnatural circumstances, a post mortem report and FIR is mandatory. A police NOC is also required and is an important document to be shown to the cargo authorities of an aircraft.

Embalming service

Some states demand to embalms body before it can be dispatched on an air carrier. Similarly, some states do not allow entry in its region if the body is not embalmed due to the effects of decomposition of the dead body. If due to a religious religion, embalming is prohibited, you may contact your religious leader or the funeral director. An embalming certificate is hence an important document in the transportation of a dead body.

Coffin box certificate

you need to book coffin box certificates from the nearest funeral homes once the embalming is done. It is important to check if the coffin box is new and is delivered by a reputed undertaker. All the documents like the death certificate, post mortem copy, police NOC, embalming certificate, coffin certificate, and details of the funeral service representative (in case of an unescorted transport) who would receive the dead body at the airport’s cargo terminal should be kept ready. Book a mortuary ambulance well in advance to take the human remains from the hospital to the airport.

Booking of air ticket

not every aircraft allows transportation of a dead body in its cargo. Checkthe availability of those that allow this facility. You can escort the dead body in the flight or can get it collected at the destination airport by a relative or friend or a funeral home representative.

The procedure for transportation of a dead body is full of challenges as it involves the procurement of too many legal documents. Now that you know what is the process of a dead body transporting, the key is to remain patient in the lengthy and tedious procedures. Once the body reaches its final resting place, funeral services can be initiated.