9/11 remains ended up dumped in landfill site
Source: Agencies |
March 1, 2012, Thursday
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PARTIAL remains from some people killed in the September 11 attacks in 2001 ended up in a landfill, according to a Pentagon-commissioned report released on Tuesday that revealed previously undisclosed blunders at the US military's main mortuary.
The unidentified remains came from two of the three sites of the September 11 attacks: the Pentagon and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site of one of the hijacked airliners. The World Trade Center in New York City, which was leveled in the attacks, was not cited.
Retired General John Abizaid, briefing reporters on the findings of the independent review of practices at the mortuary at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, said it was unclear how many people's partial remains were disposed of in this manner.
"I don't know that there's a way to find out," Abizaid said.
The remains were classified in the report as ones which "could not be tested or identified."
The incident will further undermine the reputation of the Dover mortuary after last year's revelations that it mishandled the remains of war dead.
This included losing body parts and allowing the partial remains of at least 274 troops to be dumped in a Virginia landfill. Since 2008, all partial remains have been buried at sea.
The White House said it was deeply concerned about the "unacceptable handling of remains at Dover."
The independent report's claims appeared to take Air Force leaders by surprise as well as a group representing victims of the crashed United Airlines flight in Pennsylvania.
"This is impossible to believe," said Lisa Linden, a spokeswoman for Families of Flight 93, who said the remains from the crash were under the control of the Somerset County coroner. "Our understanding is that no remains were sent to Dover."
Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said they had not been aware of the incidents.
So far, no one has been dismissed over the incidents at Dover mortuary.
The unidentified remains came from two of the three sites of the September 11 attacks: the Pentagon and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site of one of the hijacked airliners. The World Trade Center in New York City, which was leveled in the attacks, was not cited.
Retired General John Abizaid, briefing reporters on the findings of the independent review of practices at the mortuary at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, said it was unclear how many people's partial remains were disposed of in this manner.
"I don't know that there's a way to find out," Abizaid said.
The remains were classified in the report as ones which "could not be tested or identified."
The incident will further undermine the reputation of the Dover mortuary after last year's revelations that it mishandled the remains of war dead.
This included losing body parts and allowing the partial remains of at least 274 troops to be dumped in a Virginia landfill. Since 2008, all partial remains have been buried at sea.
The White House said it was deeply concerned about the "unacceptable handling of remains at Dover."
The independent report's claims appeared to take Air Force leaders by surprise as well as a group representing victims of the crashed United Airlines flight in Pennsylvania.
"This is impossible to believe," said Lisa Linden, a spokeswoman for Families of Flight 93, who said the remains from the crash were under the control of the Somerset County coroner. "Our understanding is that no remains were sent to Dover."
Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said they had not been aware of the incidents.
So far, no one has been dismissed over the incidents at Dover mortuary.
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