The DOI matches its Crossref record; 16 of the 16 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Kinship‐based DNA identification in the PK ‐8303 Karachi plane crash
Abstract
On May 22, 2020, Pakistan International Airlines flight PK‐8303 crashed in Karachi, resulting in 97 fatalities. Many victims' remains were burned, fragmented, or commingled, making visual or fingerprint identification impossible. A rapid and reliable Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) process was initiated, integrating advanced forensic genetic techniques with kinship analysis to meet urgent humanitarian, cultural, and legal needs. Biological samples, including bone fragments, teeth, and soft tissue, were collected under strict chain‐of‐custody procedures. DNA was extracted using optimized protocols for degraded material, quantified via real‐time PCR, and profiled with a high‐sensitivity autosomal STR multiplex kit (GlobalFiler™). Y‐STR and mitochondrial DNA sequencing were employed for cases where nuclear DNA was insufficient. Reference samples from 92 families were analyzed, and kinship likelihood ratios were calculated using dedicated forensic software. Within 16 days, complete identifications were made for 96 victims, with partial matches supporting the remaining case. The combined application of sensitive STR systems, lineage markers, and probabilistic kinship analysis significantly improved recovery rates from compromised remains and reduced turnaround times compared to standard DVI workflows. This case demonstrates how technological advances in forensic genetics can meet the humanitarian imperative of victim identification in mass disasters while ensuring legally robust outcomes.
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Cites
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Lemos, Y. V., Furlan, C. C., Araújo, R. M., Prado, F. B., Freire, A. R., & Rossi, A. C. (2026) · Humans · doi:10.3390/humans6030024
Metadata
- Authors
- Sarwar, M. H., & Sarwar, M. S.
- Affiliations
- Bahauddin Zakariya University (PK)
- Department of Pharmacy Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan
- Venue
- Journal of Forensic Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2026-04-24
- Volume
- 71
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1868-1877
- ISSN
- 0022-1198 (ISSN-L)
- 1556-4029
- OpenAlex
- W7155527050
- Cited by
- 1
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1
- FWCI
- 3.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Forensic Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Keywords
- disaster victim identification, kinship analysis, aviation disaster, degraded DNA, Y-chromosome short tandem repeats, mitochondrial DNA, GlobalFiler, mass disaster victim identification
- MeSH terms
- Accidents, Aviation, Body Remains, Bone and Bones, DNA, DNA, Mitochondrial, Female, Humans, Male, Pakistan, Pedigree, Tooth, Likelihood Functions, DNA Fingerprinting, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Microsatellite Repeats, Chromosomes, Human, Y, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Disaster Victims
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