A COFFIN on an Air Berlin flight from Palma de Mallorca has been lost by the airline, the deceased's family claims.

The body of Rafael Domínguez Domínguez, 42, was due to arrive in Jerez airport on Friday.

But his brother Manuel, who was on the same flight, says he was informed by the company upon landing that they had no knowledge of any coffin on board.

Air Berlin told Manuel, who went straight to the airport's mortuary after collecting his luggage, that they had no knowledge of the precious cargo having been on the flight.

The family say they were later told that Rafael could have been loaded onto another plane, or may have been held up at Palma airport due to red tape.

But the airline were unable to tell them exactly what could have happened, say Rafael's family.

Rafael had died whilst in Mallorca of causes that have not been revealed, and was being flown back to his home town, Jerez de la Frontera, for the family funeral.