Joint Committee on Aviation Pathology: IX. Laboratory examination of unidentified suspected tissue fragments found at aircraft sites.

The identification of victims of an aircraft accident may be very difficult because of the degree of fragmentation associated with the accident. Periodically, the Divisions of Aerospace Pathology and Toxicology have been asked to identify tissue, bone, or bloodstains of undetermined origin. Usually this request has been precipitated by situations in which a) it is questionable whether an aircraft has sustained a bird strike, b) unidentified pieces of tissue are found floating at sea, or c) fragments of bone, tissue, or blood-stained flight apparel are found near a crash site. Preliminary studies have shown that gross examination and the methods and procedures used in forensic serology may also be applied in aircraft investigation with very good results. These methods are used as an aid to confirm the identity of the victims involved.