Flight PK-661: DNA profiling of crash victims continues
Results of the tests are expected by December 17
Rescue workers survey the site of a plane crashed a day earlier near the village of Saddha Batolni, near Abbotabad, Pakistan, December 8, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The identification of the remains of PK661 crash victims will continue through the extended holiday break. Results of the DNA profiling are expected to be received by December 17.
Once the results are in, the bodies will be handed over to the families collectively, according to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) administrator Dr Altaf Hussain.
PK-661: Chinese victim’s family visits crash site
The hospital arranged Quran Khawani for the deceased on Sunday wherein the victims’ relatives, hospital staff and others prayed for the departed souls. Pakistan International Airlines has arranged accommodation for the registered relatives in a hotel near the hospital until the verification process in over.
Almost all the relatives have submitted blood samples for the DNA verification, except the two remaining Austrian citizens. Their relatives could not reach Pakistan due to visa issues but they have dispatched blood samples via courier. The samples will reach Islamabad on Monday.
The remains of 38 passengers are currently kept in a private cold storage in Rawat.
In usual circumstances, Dr Hussain said, the bodies are usually identified by face and other parts but in this case, unfortunately, all the bodies were charred and unrecognisable. Only a few bodies could be identified through biometric system.
Others were recognised through personal belongings. In European countries, he said, identification is also possible through the shape of the jaws and dental records but in Pakistan there is no such system.
The last and the most authentic identification method is DNA profiling in which blood samples of the relatives and body parts samples of the deceased are collected for genetic analysis. In this case bone marrow samples or hair are more reliable.
“It is a sensitive and computerised process wherein DNA samples are extracted by chemicals and genetic design of all the samples is compared collectively by computers so there are no or rare chances of any human error,” he explained.
PIA’s flight PK-661 en route to Islamabad from the northern city of Chitral had crashed into a hillside near Abbottabad after one of its two turboprop engines failed and burst into flames.
Flight PK-661: ATR manufacturer team may join crash probe
Among those on board was Junaid Jamshed, a former singer-turned evangelist and DC Chitral Osama Warraich. One Chinese and two Austrian citizens were also among the passengers.
The turboprop ATR aircraft is being operated in more than 100 countries by 200 airlines, including India, which has almost the same climatic and ground conditions.
According to PIA Chairman Azam Saigol, the nine-year-old plane was deemed to be ‘technically sound’ when it last underwent a detailed inspection in October.
On Saturday, PIA’s Chief Executive Officer Bernd Hildenbrand visited Saddha Batolni village in the vicinity of Havelian, where the ATR 42 aircraft (AP-BHO) had crashed. He also laid a floral wreath at the site and observed one-minute silence in remembrance of the victims. He also met the local people and thanked them for promptly helping in the rescue efforts, according to an official statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2016.
The identification of the remains of PK661 crash victims will continue through the extended holiday break. Results of the DNA profiling are expected to be received by December 17.
Once the results are in, the bodies will be handed over to the families collectively, according to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) administrator Dr Altaf Hussain.
PK-661: Chinese victim’s family visits crash site
The hospital arranged Quran Khawani for the deceased on Sunday wherein the victims’ relatives, hospital staff and others prayed for the departed souls. Pakistan International Airlines has arranged accommodation for the registered relatives in a hotel near the hospital until the verification process in over.
Almost all the relatives have submitted blood samples for the DNA verification, except the two remaining Austrian citizens. Their relatives could not reach Pakistan due to visa issues but they have dispatched blood samples via courier. The samples will reach Islamabad on Monday.
The remains of 38 passengers are currently kept in a private cold storage in Rawat.
In usual circumstances, Dr Hussain said, the bodies are usually identified by face and other parts but in this case, unfortunately, all the bodies were charred and unrecognisable. Only a few bodies could be identified through biometric system.
Others were recognised through personal belongings. In European countries, he said, identification is also possible through the shape of the jaws and dental records but in Pakistan there is no such system.
The last and the most authentic identification method is DNA profiling in which blood samples of the relatives and body parts samples of the deceased are collected for genetic analysis. In this case bone marrow samples or hair are more reliable.
“It is a sensitive and computerised process wherein DNA samples are extracted by chemicals and genetic design of all the samples is compared collectively by computers so there are no or rare chances of any human error,” he explained.
PIA’s flight PK-661 en route to Islamabad from the northern city of Chitral had crashed into a hillside near Abbottabad after one of its two turboprop engines failed and burst into flames.
Flight PK-661: ATR manufacturer team may join crash probe
Among those on board was Junaid Jamshed, a former singer-turned evangelist and DC Chitral Osama Warraich. One Chinese and two Austrian citizens were also among the passengers.
The turboprop ATR aircraft is being operated in more than 100 countries by 200 airlines, including India, which has almost the same climatic and ground conditions.
According to PIA Chairman Azam Saigol, the nine-year-old plane was deemed to be ‘technically sound’ when it last underwent a detailed inspection in October.
On Saturday, PIA’s Chief Executive Officer Bernd Hildenbrand visited Saddha Batolni village in the vicinity of Havelian, where the ATR 42 aircraft (AP-BHO) had crashed. He also laid a floral wreath at the site and observed one-minute silence in remembrance of the victims. He also met the local people and thanked them for promptly helping in the rescue efforts, according to an official statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2016.