MEDICOLEGAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE AIRBUS A320 CRASH UPON MOUNT STE-ODILE, FRANCE

The authors present the medico-legal investigations and identification after the aircrash of the Airbus A320 upon the Mount Sainte-Odile (Fr ance). The identification team comprising investigators from the genda rmerie, forensic pathologists, odontologists, and scientists of the In stitute from Legal Medecine rapidly retrieved and identified 85 of the 87 victims, with 17 being identified through DNA typing, three throug h fingerprints and the remaining through dental records and specific p hysical or X-ray findings. Full autopsies were performed on all fatali ties to determine patterns of injury and cause of death. Results lead us to point out the importance of a multidisciplinary team of forensic practitioners especially trained for managing medico-legal investigat ion in mass disaster and the ability of DNA technology to solve comple x identification problems.