• News Archive
  • Simaster
  • Webmail
  • Directory
  • Crisis Center
  •  English
    • Indonesia
Universitas Gadjah Mada Universitas Gadjah Mada Universitas Gadjah Mada Universitas Gadjah Mada
  • Education
    • Doctoral dissertation
    • Inauguration of Professor
    • Graduation
  • Achievement
  • Research and Innovation
    • Research
    • Innovation
  • Campus Info
    • Cooperation
    • Seminar and Workshop
    • Student Community Service Program
    • Other
  • News Report
  • Home
  • News Report
  • The Hardest Part in Plane Crash Victim Identification Is Collecting Antemortem Data

The Hardest Part in Plane Crash Victim Identification Is Collecting Antemortem Data

  • 19 January 2021, 14:06 WIB
  • By: Salma
  • 1446
Pengumpulan Data Antemortem Jadi Bagian Tersulit  Identifikasi Korban Kecelakaan Pesawat

Former Head of DNA Laboratory of Pudokkes (Indonesian Police Center for Medical and Health Service), Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Team at National Police Headquarters, Drs. Putu T. Widodo, DFM, M.Sc., said that one of the keys in identifying plane crash victims was by comparing antemortem and postmortem data. If the two data match, the victim’s identity will be easier to reveal. If not, the data must be re-collected. “If these two data are not available, surely the victim could not be identified,” said Putu Widodo in a webinar organized by Faculty of Biology UGM entitled DNA Testing in the Identification of Plane Crash Victims, Monday (18/1).

According to the Faculty of Biology UGM alumnus, comparing victims’ postmortem and antemortem data is the best step. It eases the identification of plane crash victims based on his experience in handling several aircraft accidents, such as the burning Garuda plane at Yogyakarta Adisucipto airport in 2007, the Adam Air plane crash in the Makassar Strait in 2007, the AirAsia crash around Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan in 2014, and the Lion Air crash in the Java Sea in 2018. However, up to this point, there has not been much study on antemortem data collection since finding victims sample data while they were still alive is not easy. “The challenge is much bigger. We have to meet the victims’ family or best friends and know where their home or hangout is,” he said.

When identifying victims, the DVI team always uses five data sources: fingerprints, odontology, DNA, medical data, and victims’ property. Especially for fingerprints, said Widodo, to find complete fingerprint data of victims who are under 17 years of age is difficult as they do not have a KTP (identity card) yet. It also applies to odontological data since some dentists don’t always keep their patients’ teeth records. “It’s hard to get (the dental data and under 17 aged victims’ fingerprints),” he said.

In terms of medical data, they are taken from the appearance of bones, tattoos, or having had postoperative defects. Furthermore, property data are taken from items that the victims brought or frequently used. “We obtain data from items brought or left by the victims. Who knows that these items contain DNA. There are many DNA sources from which we can take the data, for example, unwashed clothes at home. We can even take DNA samples from unwashed collars,” he said.

Regarding DNA identification, the DVI team generally must know the victims’ family tree revealed by the informant, who is a close relative of the victims. “If the family can convey DNA to the DVI, the body can likely be returned to the correct family,” he explained.

Genetics and Forensic Researcher at the Faculty of Biology UGM, Dr. Niken Saputri Nur Handayani, explained the identification of victims through DNA was by matching DNA data taken from the closest family, namely parents, children, or siblings. “The DNA profile of close relatives is likely to be close to the victims’ compared to distant family members’,” she said.

She explained that DNA samples taken from plane crash victims, whether intact or not, were generally from the victims’ arm muscle tissue, bone parts, or parts of the molar tooth, which are considered the best DNA sources due to the minimal exposure from the outside environment. On the other hand, the DNA source taken from the family is from the body part of the tissue that has core cells, namely white blood cells.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Related News

  • Dental Forensic Expert from UGM Helps Identify Victims of Air Asia Plane Crash

    Friday,09 January 2015 - 15:40
  • DNA Test Helps Uncover Criminal Case

    Tuesday,05 September 2017 - 8:19
  • Dental Characteristics Help Identify Disaster Victims

    Tuesday,08 March 2011 - 10:57
  • Smart-Tech Bracelet by UGM Students to Find Plane Crash Victims

    Friday,17 June 2016 - 8:56
  • Prof. Sugeng: Conventional Methods for Compounds Identification is Not Sufficient

    Monday,19 December 2011 - 15:11

News Releases

  • UGM Karate Unit Named 3rd Overall Champion of SEMAR CUP XII 31 March 2023
    UGM Karate INKAI Unit has won the 3rd Overall Cham
    Salma
  • Kabar UGM Named Gold Winner of 2023 SPS Awards 31 March 2023
    Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has been presented w
    Salma
  • UGM Wins Most Social Media Awards at 2023 Public Relations Indonesia Awards (PRIA) 31 March 2023
    Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has taken home multi
    Salma
  • UGM Students Win 2023 Chemical Engineering Car League (CIRCLE) 30 March 2023
    Reactics Chem-E-Car UGM has been crowned champion
    Salma
  • UGM to Build Moeso Suryowinoto Indonesia Biodiversity Center (MSIBC) 30 March 2023
    The UGM Faculty of Biology held a groundbreaking c
    Salma

Event

No latest event at this time

Universitas Gadjah Mada
UNIVERSITAS GADJAH MADA
Bulaksumur Yogyakarta 55281
   info@ugm.ac.id
   +62 (274) 588688
   +62 (274) 565223
   +62 811 2869 988

PARTNERSHIP

  • Alumni
  • International Affairs

ABOUT UGM

  • Rector's Welcome
  • History
  • Vission and Mission
  • The Board of Executive
  • Management

VISIT UGM

  • Campus Map
  • Event

REGISTRATION

  • Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Vocational School
  • Professional Program
  • International Program

© 2023 Universitas Gadjah Mada

PRIVACY POLICYCONTACT