[Medicolegal identification of victims in mass disasters using the example of aircraft accidents].

In mass disasters, the main task of the medicolegal expert is to support the victims' identification. As such events are rare, the knowledge obtained during previous operations should be evaluated and published to improve the quality and effectiveness of the identification work in future disasters. This report describes the experience gained at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the Humboldt University in Berlin during the identification of the victims of three aircraft accidents (1972, 1986, 1989). The advantages and disadvantages of the identification methods used are discussed. Medicolegal experts should make themselves familiar with available experiences to be adequately prepared for the responsible task of identifying the victims in an emergency.