Dead body transportation by air cargo in India

Dead Body Transportation by Air Cargo in India is a sensitive and crucial service that helps families bring their loved ones home with dignity, no matter the distance. In situations where a person passes away far from their hometown or country, air cargo transportation becomes the fastest and safest option to repatriate the mortal remains. The process, however, involves multiple formalities including documentation, embalming, coffin sealing, and airline clearances — all of which can be overwhelming for grieving families. This is where professional assistance from trusted services like VMEDO becomes essential. VMEDO simplifies the dead body air cargo transport process in India by handling end-to-end arrangements — from obtaining NOCs and clearances to coordinating with airlines — ensuring a smooth, respectful, and timely transfer. VMEDO guarantees hassle-free, respectful, and timely process service, available 24/7. Call us now at +91-9343180000 for immediate assistance.

What is Dead Body Transportation by Air cargo?

Dead Body Transportation by Air Cargo refers to the process of sending the mortal remains of a deceased person from one city, state, or country to another using an aircraft. This method is chosen when the distance is too far for ground transport or when the body needs to reach its destination quickly and safely.

In this process, the deceased person’s body is properly embalmed, sealed in an airtight coffin, and packed according to airline and government regulations to ensure hygiene and safety during transit. The coffin is then booked as “human remains cargo” on a commercial or cargo flight.

Air cargo transportation is commonly used in cases such as:

• When a person passes away while traveling or working in another city or abroad.

• When families want to perform the last rites in their hometown.

• When an expatriate’s mortal remains need to be sent back to India or from India to another country.

This process requires official documentation, including a death certificate, embalming certificate, police NOC, and airway bill from the airline.

When is Air Transport of Dead Bodies Required?

• When a person dies in a different state or city than their home
  
• Death occurs during travel or pilgrimage
  
• Individuals working or staying abroad pass away, requiring repatriation
  
• In case of accidents or disasters in remote areas
  
• Medical tourists or NRI patients who died in India

How to transport the dead body by plane within Indian cities?

Transporting a dead body by plane within Indian cities is a delicate process that requires care, coordination, and proper documentation. When a person passes away away from their hometown or in a different city, families often choose air transportation for faster and safer repatriation of the mortal remains. Domestic airlines in India allow human remains to be carried as air cargo, provided all medical, legal, and embalming formalities are completed. To make the process smooth, families can take help from professional dead body transportation services like VMEDO, which handle every step — from documentation to coordination with the airlines and airport authorities — ensuring a dignified transfer of the deceased to their home city.

1. Get Hospital clearance and get the death certificate issued

• You need to get a Death certificate issued from the hospital or the concerned doctor stating the cause of death.
• Death Certificate Format: Please ensure that the issued death certificate has the following details in it – Name, age, gender, date of death, Reason for death, Address of the deceased, Identification mark if any, Doctor name, Doctor signature with a seal, Doctor Registration ID or medical License number.
• Cross-check if all the details are correct and match any ID card of the deceased.
• If the death certificate is issued in the local language, request the doctor for the English version of the same. Just to avoid possible resistance from air cargo authorities at the source or destination point. We have experienced a few situations where this has happened, which could lead to delays in airport clearance.
• Take a few photocopies of the death certificate, at least 10 numbers.
• In the case of unnatural death, you might need to get a post-mortem. You need to collect the post-mortem certificate, and FIR copy from the police department.
• Please read the reason for death properly, you need to know it before you book air cargo, as few of the air cargo may not allow the human remains of a person who may have died of yellow fever, plague, anthrax, or other diseases.

2. Arrange for mortuary

• Once the death certificate is issued, check for air cargo availability from your nearest airport to the destination airport. In case you have to wait for a long time, it’s better if you can book a mortuary for the body to keep it away from decomposition.
• You can demand to freeze at the hospital mortuary
• If the particular hospital doesn’t have a mortuary facility you can book the nearest private or government mortuary.
• Book a Mortuary ambulance with a freezer box fitted to transport the dead body from the hospital to the mortuary.

3. Get Police NOC from the local police station

• You need to get the police clearance or NOC from the nearest police jurisdiction.
• Police will issue a NOC understanding of the circumstances.

4. Get an Embalming service and an Embalming certificate issued

• One of the most important documents for transporting human remains by air is the Embalming certificate. Basically, a body needs to undergo Embalming to avoid decomposition for a long time.
• Various private, government hospitals and private Embalming service providers offer this service and issue Embalming Certificates. Find the nearest embalming center and get the embalming certificate signed and sealed by the concerned authorities or the Embalming doctor.
• You should then arrange a coffin box and coffin box certificate.

5. Book a Coffin Box and get a Coffin box certificate

• Once the Embalming center hands over the body along with the Embalming certificate, you need to book a Coffin box from the nearest funeral undertaker.
• Make sure that the coffin box you are getting is from a professional undertaker and that the coffin box has not been used earlier. Request your undertaker for a coffin box certificate for air cargo clearance.

6. Arrange a list of  Documents required for cargo clearance for dead body

Keep 10 copies of the following documents handy for cargo clearance

• Death certificate
• Post-mortem copy
• Police NOC
• Embalming certificate
• Coffin certificate
• Photo and ID card (Aadhaar card/ driving license or any equivalent document)
• Contact details of the receiver in case of non-accompanied transport

7. Book a Mortuary ambulance to the airport

• Once you have all these documents with you, you need to take the human remains to the airport by mortuary ambulance. You can choose to book the nearest ambulance through VMEDO.
• Now you may not need to book a freezer-fitted mortuary vehicle as the body inside the coffin box has undergone embalming service.

9. Book a cargo ticket

• Not every air operator accepts Human remains in their cargo. Check for air cargo accepting Human remains or dead bodies in India. Call the air cargo department and enquire about the availability of the service and the next available flight. Book cargo online (if possible). Usually the majority of air operators don’t accept online bookings for a dead body. You need to visit the cargo department physically to book the slots.
• Please report to the AWB section of Air cargo and produce all the documents at least 3 hours before departure time.
• You can book for the Air cargo with or without accompaniment.
• In case of transportation without an attendee, you need to give the contact details of the receiver.
• Whereas, if the transportation is with an attendee, you need to book an air ticket for the same flight.

The entire procedure can take a lot of time. VMEDO can help you with an end to end transportation including all the documentation support. We allocate a dedicated executive to help you throughout the process who knows the complete steps and to get the documentation on time from the concerned authorities. You can call VMEDO Helpline +91-9343180000 for more details and for service bookings.

How much does it cost to transport the dead body by air in India?

The price for domestic dead body transportation will be in the range of 25,000 to 30,000 INR. The cost depends on various factors. Here are a few major factors that determine the cost of dead body transportation by Air in India.

Note: The final cost may vary depending on the city of transport, weight of the body, type of coffin used, and the urgency of the transfer.

How much time does it take to transport the dead body by flight in India?

Usually Human remains transportation by air takes an average of 1 to 2 days to reach the destination airport. The time of Dead body transportation by flight in India depends on various factors. Here are a few factors that affect transportation time.

1. How quickly you can get a death certificate from the doctor. Generally, for a death occurring inside the hospital, you will get a death certificate issued quickly. However, if death has occurred outside the hospital it might take a little more time.
2. In case of an unnatural death, the body needs to undergo post-mortem which may take at least 5 hours along with a certificate.
3. The availability of embalming centers is also an important factor. If there are no embalming centers nearby, you need to take the human remains to the nearest city to get it done.
4. Next available air cargo for the dead body. Few of the destinations will have limited flight availability; hence it might take more time in case of unavailability of flight or cargo services.

Types of Air Transport

1. Commercial Airlines (Cargo)

Used for scheduled transport through airlines like Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoFirst, and Vistara. Bodies are transported as air cargo.

2. Chartered Air Ambulance

Used for urgent or remote locations, or when families want complete privacy and faster transit. Significantly more expensive than commercial cargo.

Airlines in India that Allow Human Remains as Cargo

Most major airlines allow transportation of dead bodies with prior booking:

Always check specific route availability and air cargo service timings.

Cities Where VMEDO Provides Dead Body Air Transport Services

We provide dead body air transport assistance in all major Indian cities including:

• Bangalore
  
• Delhi
  
• Mumbai
  
• Chennai
  
• Hyderabad
  
• Pune
  
• Ahmedabad
• Kolkata