MH17: Transporting and identifying the victims' bodies

Now that the transfer of the bodies and remains of the victims on the ill-fated flight MH17 have been confirmed, the bodies will will go on a journey from Ukraine to the Netherlands where an extensive identification process will begin.

The victims' bodies will be handed over to the Dutch National Forensic Investigations Team (LTFO) who will be taking the lead in the identification process.

Stage 1 (Collection)

- The bodies and their remains are collected and stored in refrigerated wagons in Torez (near the crash site).

- The train arrives in Kharkiv and the bodies are transferred to the LTFO for preparation to be transported to Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Stage 2 (Air transport)

- A direct air-bridge route from Kharkiv to Eindhoven is formed.

- The victims' bodies are flown in phases on different flights.

- A Dutch C-130 Hercules and an Australian Boeing C-17 will be used to fly the bodies.

- First batch of bodies are expected to arrive on Wednesday.

Stage 3 (Identification)

- From Eindhoven, the victims' bodies will be brought to the Corporal Van Oudheusden barracks in Hilversum.

- Identification work begins here as per the Interpol rules.

- Fingerprints, dental status and DNA.

Stage 4 (Release)

- Victims's bodies will be released and handed over to their next of kin.

- If there are criminal investigations to be done, release might not happen.

- Duration may take weeks or even months.