SUPPLEMENT
how legal processes, rather than aviation itself, can hold up repatriation. Families often expect swift returns, but foreign jurisdictions may move at very different speeds.
Towards better practice The industry acknowledges the difficulties. The IATA manual now includes case studies and checklists designed to prevent errors and
to ensure transparency. Experts recommend destination coroners and funeral appointing
a single accountable “case owner” across the supply chain, pre-alerting
directors, and
maintaining named custody records at every stage. Some carriers publish special tariffs and acceptance criteria for human remains, which professionalises the booking process and sets clear expectations for families. Yet for all the guidance and procedures, the work remains a matter of human professionalism. Ground handlers must treat the
task as distinct from moving freight; airline staff must ensure paperwork is checked and rechecked;
funeral directors must
navigate foreign bureaucracies with patience. Air transport of human remains is one of the quiet, unseen
services of global aviation. It demands precision in documentation, sensitivity in handling, and discretion at every stage. For civilians, it is a service few ever think about until tragedy strikes abroad. For the military, it is bound up with ceremony and national identity. In both cases, errors can cause fresh trauma to families already stricken by loss. When the system works, it is almost invisible: the loved one
arrives home swiftly, privately and with dignity. When it falters, as recent tragedies have shown, the veil of secrecy can make errors harder to detect until it is too late. That is why strict adherence to standards, and a recognition of the human meaning behind every HUM consignment, remain essential.
“It is a service
few ever think about until
tragedy strikes abroad.”
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