New advancements in DNA technology, including whole genome sequencing, are enabling officials to identify victims from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks whose remains have remained unidentified for over two decades. The New York City medical examiner's office has used these sophisticated techniques to identify victims with partial remains that were previously unmatchable.
Efforts to identify victims have been complicated by the nature of the attacks themselves. The plane crashes and subsequent fires damaged human remains, leaving officials with only portions of victims for DNA sampling. In many cases, firefighters were on shift changes during the attacks, and some first responders who recovered victims were wearing uniforms with other individuals' names, further hindering identification. The World Trade Center site alone had more victims than other attack locations.
While initial identifications after the attacks relied on fingerprints or dental records, the focus shifted to DNA as these methods became unavailable. The medical examiner's office has continuously retested remains as new technologies emerged. Since 9/11, DNA analysis has helped identify 1,495 victims, either solely through DNA or in combination with other methods.
Last year, the city announced the identification of three new victims through DNA analysis: Ryan Fitzgerald, a currency trader; Barbara Keating, who was aboard American Airlines Flight 11; and a woman whose family requested her identity remain private. These identifications were made possible by retesting preserved remains with advanced methods.
The latest technology, known as FICCG, utilizes whole genome sequencing, which deciphers an individual's entire genetic code. This process allows for potential matches with more distant relatives, and once these matches are established, the New York Police Department assists in locating closer family members. Officials have packaged and sealed remains from the World Trade Center to preserve DNA for future testing, a practice that continues to yield results as technology evolves.
Similar challenges were faced at the Pentagon, where the remains of five of the 184 victims were never identified due to the conditions. At the site of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, enough remains were recovered to identify all 40 victims aboard through DNA, dental records, and fingerprints. The ongoing work with the World Trade Center victims' remains highlights the persistent efforts to bring closure to families affected by the tragedy.