Corpses/Coffins and air travel/customs

[Violator]

Can anyone give me a run-down on the protocol when the body of a deceased person (US citizen) is flown from a different country to the US for a funeral?

Is the coffin opened and examined at customs?
Is the body X-rayed?
Would the coffin be shipped in the cargo area of a regular passenger airliner or would other arrangements normally be made?

[Augie Kestrel]

I don't know anything about the process myself, but your question got me curious. I did a "google" search on "deceased shipping airline" and got quite a few responses. Here are three:

A newspaper article about two bodies getting mixed up in transit. Provides some minor details concerning procedure:

www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/weird_news/4094107.htm (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/weird_news/4094107.htm)

This one's unusual. It's a print-out of the orders given to Army soldiers assigned to escort a body by airline or train. Very detailed procedures, including the salute when the body is placed on the plane, and later when it's unloaded:

www.fmmc.army.mil/CAC%20Web/Escort~1.htm (http://www.fmmc.army.mil/CAC%20Web/Escort~1.htm)

Finally, an airline which apparently specializes in transporting the deceased:

www.flylegacy.com/services/caring.cfm (http://www.flylegacy.com/services/caring.cfm)


I hope these help!

[Violator]

"deceased shipping airline" -- sheesh, why didn't I think of that? Much more effective than "coffin customs"

Thanks a bunch, Augie