Identification in the Lockerbie air disaster

Abstract

In the aftermath of the Lockerbie air disaster, identification of the victims (plane occupants and local residents) was established by two primary methods: odontology and dactylography. Scottish law requires corroboration of evidence of identity, so both primary methods were used whenever possible, with further evidence occasionally derived from the matching of physical characteristics, personal effects and details from past medical records. Of the 270 victims, 253 were positively identified. Of these, 209 were identified with the aid of odontology.