My Dad was expired here in USA, cremation was done here itself.Can I take his ashes back to India thru airline

I am sorry for your loss.

My father died two years ago and he was cremated in Canada. I transported his remains to his birthplace in Europe.

I had to ensure that I had a certificate that permitted me to transport human remains (the funeral home arranged it), I arranged for papers which allowed me to inter the ashes in his hometown (this I obtained through the consulate of the country involved) and I made sure to transport the ashes in a "travel urn".

The travel urn was sold by the funeral home and is a plastic (hard plastic) urn where the ashes are placed in a plastic bag. This urn can be scanned through x-ray machines at airports. I carried the ashes in my carry-on with no problems. I had to, on a few occasions, produce the death certificate and the papers I had showing that these were ashes.

(While this was difficult to do emotionally at times, airport staff were very courteous and helpful).

I bought another urn (a metal one) for the ashes to be placed in our family crypt (the ashes were put into the other urn by a funeral home in my dad's hometown).

Good luck!

I wouldnt see why not. might want to talk to the airline and tell them what your planning. They might have precautions as to how they handle that situation. Some people might not want to have an urn right next to them on board. Sorry for your loss..

you can take Dad with you in cabin, or put him in suitcase and check him in.


....Richard's comments are accurate and valid, but you don't need all that stuff unless you are shipping an intact body....

Absolutely discuss this with the airline/s. Remains are normally shipped cargo. The following is from the Air India site.

Sentimental Shipments:
We understand how traumatic it is to lose a dear one. That's why we make sure the mortal remains of the deceased are always carried with utmost care and concern.
Besides passport of the deceased, the following documents are required for carriage of sentimental cargo :
Death Certificate from a competent medical authority,
Embalming and Packaging Certificate, Certificate issued by the Ambassador or his representative (Nationality of the deceased) with the deceased's full name, age at the time of death, place of death and photocopy of passport details.
Photocopy of cancelled passport.
It is necessary that the above documents are made in English, otherwise the same should be translated in English.

Sure..