Journal Published Online: 01 January 1991
Volume 36, Issue 1

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

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

The results of toxicological analyses of the body fluids of the victims from the accident involving the British Air Tours Boeing 737 in August 1985 are presented for carboxyhemoglobin, cyanide, and volatiles.

All the victims except one had raised concentrations of carbon monoxide. All the victims had raised concentrations of cyanide. All the victims showed the presence of volatile substances in the blood. Autopsies revealed that all the victims had carbon particles in the trachea and bronchi. Thus, all the victims must have inhaled fire products in the burning aircraft cabin. Six victims had concentrations of carbon monoxide or cyanide in the blood that were neither fatal nor incapacitating; therefore, it is reasonable to suggest that these six victims survived for a comparatively short time and that there may have been other causes, in addition to toxic fumes, for their deaths. The other 48 victims must have survived long enough in the fire to accumulate incapacitating or fatal concentrations of carbon monoxide or cyanide or both. The effects of these substances found in the blood of each of the 48 victims must have combined to produce an insurmountable impediment to escape from the aircraft.

Author Information

Mayes, RW
Royal Air Force Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Pages: 6
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: JFS13018J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13018J