Analysis of smiling photograph; Operation US-Bangla Air Crash

Med Leg J. 2023 Dec;91(4):231-235. doi: 10.1177/00258172231151782. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Abstract

Human identification may be difficult when there is no antemortem data available. A photograph of the deceased may be valuable in such cases. Digital advancement and inclusion in the lives of ordinary people makes it easier to retrieve clear, high-resolution photos from social media accounts and other places. This paper describes three cases of forensic dental identification from a US-Bangla plane crash in Nepal in which a charred body was positively identified from a smiling photograph provided by the deceased's family. Each case is unique and their identification rests on the availability of pre- and post-mortem information. Thus, the number of concordant points may vary from single to multiple; there is no defined criteria for minimum number of concordance for a positive dental identification.

Keywords: Disaster victim identification; Nepal; US–Bangla air crash; forensic dentistry; smiling photograph.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Forensic Dentistry*
  • Humans
  • Nepal
  • Smiling*