Two forensic doctors described Thursday, May 12 to the Paris court the examination of the bodies found after the crash of the Yemenia Airways off the Comoros in 2009, whose victims succumbed to "
polytrauma
" or "
drowning
".
To discover
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The Yemeni national company, which operated flight IY626 which crashed in the Indian Ocean off Moroni, capital of the Comoros, has been on trial since Monday and for four weeks for homicide and involuntary injuries.
Recovered remains
In July 2009, a specialized unit from the Criminal Research Institute of the National Gendarmerie (IRCGN) went to the archipelago after the disaster which, on the night of June 29 to 30, killed 152 people, leaving only one survivor.
Two members of that team testified Thursday.
They said 25 bodies had been carried by a strong ocean current to Tanzania, where they were found a week later.
The majority of the remains of the victims, however, were recovered two months after the crash at the bottom of the ocean, at a depth of 1280 meters, next to the debris of the cabin.
A total of 111 bodies or body fragments have been identified.
No life jackets
"
Dental elements, DNA, an anatomical feature, fingerprints, only one of these elements can formally identify a victim
," summarized an expert.
None of the victims were wearing life jackets.
They died of "
major polytrauma by sudden deceleration
", the moment the plane hit the water at high speed: "
this leads to multiple fractures, major organ damage, haemorrhages
", indicated the another coroner.
Three bodies found in Tanzania and five in the Comoros, however, showed "
no injury or fracture
": "
despite the deterioration of the weather, there are signs suggestive of drowning
".
Only one body bore traces of “
burns
” on the chest.
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Referring to the testimony of the only survivor, Bahia Bakari, who suffered burns to the level of the feet, the expert considered that these injuries "
can only be due to a short circuit and kerosene
" which would have produced flames right after the crash.
In response to questions, he ruled out the hypothesis of "
lightning
" or even a fire on board before the crash.
The trial is due to resume Monday afternoon with a new hearing of aeronautical experts.
