Toxicological Examination of the Victims of the British Air Tours Boeing 737 Accident at Manchester in 1985

• NCJ Number: 128099
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 179-184
• Author(s): R W Mayes
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Toxicological analyses of body fluids were performed on the 54 victims of the August 1985 crash of a British Air Tours Boeing 737 in Manchester, England. The results are presented for carboxyhemoglobin, cyanide, and volatiles.

Abstract

The results show that all but one victim had raised concentrations of carbon monoxide in their blood and all had raised levels of cyanide. Furthermore, all victims had some presence of volatile substances. The autopsies indicate that the victims inhaled fire products in the burning aircraft. Because six victims had non-fatal concentrations of carbon monoxide and cyanide in their blood, they may have died of factors other than smoke and fumes. The other victims survived long enough to have inhaled a fatal accumulation of carbon monoxide and/or cyanide; the effects of these substances made it impossible for them to escape from the aircraft. 2 tables and 7 references (Author abstract modified)