Identify victim MH17 - a huge challenge with forensics

Identifying the victim's identity in a disaster is not an easy task, especially when limited access to the site and collection of evidence.

Identifying the victim's identity in a disaster (DVI) is an important task, conducted after the disaster. According to the researchers, this process will face disadvantages depending on the extent and nature of the incident or external factors.

In the case of MH17, identification of identity may be more challenging, when the collection of victims' bodies is delayed and obstructed in the beginning. In addition, the search range within 10km is also a significant influence on rescuers.

Collect the victim's body

Collecting bodies is considered to be the most important stage in the identification of victims . This is the period that needs to be done by experienced and well-trained professionals and police. According to experts, the process involves collecting corpses and related evidence, preserving corpses, personal property and other forensic evidence at the field site.

The body was taken out of the plane area.(Photo: EPA)

During this period, if the standard requirements are not fulfilled properly and correctly, it will be difficult to identify the victim's identity later.

According to the image recorded from the scene MH17, armed gunmen present at the plane's location and gathered around the plane fragment could be those who have not been trained in this area. The untrained search force may not detect valuable evidence, so they will not collect or even ignore them.

Synthesis of materials

Body parts and personal items or property are often marked with a separate number before gathering to a certain location, and continue to attach numbers during the subsequent identification process.

This may limit the risk of loss or affect the integrity of the body, maintaining evidence at the scene. In cases where disaster causes are related to terrorism or crime, this is considered an important step to support other legal procedures.

For the identification of multinational victim identities, as in the case of MH17, the team of forensic experts from the countries involved should be present at the site to take care of this task correctly.

Malaysia Airlines has identified passengers on flight MH17 and flight crews from the Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Britain, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, Canada and New Zealand.

However, the separatist faction in eastern Ukraine was said to have repeatedly interfered with the process of approaching the scene to gather evidence and investigate. International experts, including Australia's group, which has a world-class team of experts in this area, are having difficulty accessing the site and the bodies of the victims.

Protect the body

The process of identifying victims in the MH17 disaster includes autopsy, fingerprints, tooth and DNA analysis, comparing evidence with dental records, medical documents, and photos. Personal and personal fingerprints. DNA samples were taken from the body and parts of the victim's body at the scene of the crash, which could then be compared to DNA of family, relatives and other personal items.

Under the influence of sunlight, the victim's body will quickly decompose. Related clues or evidence such as fingerprints, tattoos, scars, birthmarks or image recognition may disappear.

Delay in the collection of the victim's body has no effect on DNA collection from the victim's bone, but will affect the procedure with blood and soft tissue samples.

DNA analysis was the method used to identify victims in the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001, bombing in Bali in 2002. Analysis technologies have also improved significantly over the past 20 years. .

The bodies were wrapped in black bags and placed on the side of the road.(Photo: EPA)

Effects of explosions

The effects of explosions and rocket fires are another challenge for experts. The heat and destructive force of the initial explosion, along with the subsequent collision process, will make it difficult for the body to be identified and restored.

Experts around the world have successfully applied forensic science in many previously attacked disasters. However, experts believe that not all victims can be identified.

Forensic evidence at the scene of falling aircraft not only provides information for the victim identification process, but can also help find the cause of the incident. Evidence may also be used in court, in order to prosecute those responsible for the attack.

Earlier, the Malaysian government once called on stakeholders to protect the plane crash site in eastern Ukraine, avoiding the risk of tampering or destroying evidence to hide the truth.