Forensic medical findings in the postaccident investigation of an aviation disaster in the village of Topolów (Silesian Voivodeship) - a case study.

Abstract

The study presents the results of forensic medical findings in the post-accident investigation of an aviation disaster that took place in the village of Topolów. Due to an emergency landing, the aircraft crashed and subsequently caught fire. As a result of the incident, 11 people died, and one was seriously injured. During autopsy examinations, all victims were found to have multi-organ injuries, and in six of them, histopathological studies confirmed the presence of inhaled fire smoke in the respiratory tract, indicating they were alive when the fire spread. Due to the severe damage to the bodies, genetic identification was necessary to establish their identities. Thanks to the established cooperation between the Prosecutor's Office and the Police, as well as the efficient work of various laboratories of Department and Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Medical Toxicology at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice - through autopsy examinations and genetic analyses - all victims were identified within two weeks, allowing their families to proceed with burial. This case demonstrates that experience in handling disasters and good collaboration between forensic institutions enable the swift and comprehensive formulation of expert opinions.