4 November 2008
DNA testing has confirmed that bones found near the crash site of Steve Fossett’s aircraft are those of the explorer, authorities in the US have said.
The bones were discovered half a mile from the crash site last week, along with Fossett’s shoes and his driver’s licence. There was evidence of bite marks from wild animals.
“A California Department of Justice Forensics lab has determined that items containing DNA – discovered last week – match James Stephen Fossett’s DNA,” a police coroner said.
The confirmation that the bones are Fossett’s will put an end to speculation about his fate, although now the question becomes how such an experienced pilot crashed.
Fossett, who was 63 at the time of the crash, was the first man to make a solo, non-stop, non-refueled aircraft flight around the world; he also made the first solo balloon circumnavigation.
