Three More 9/11 Victims Identified by DNA

Nearly 25 years after the September 11 attacks, New York City officials have identified three additional victims of the World Trade Center using advanced DNA sequencing and outreach for new family reference samples. The newly identified victims are Ryan Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old foreign currency trader from Floral Park, NY; Barbara Keating, a 72-year-old grandmother and breast cancer survivor from Palm Springs, CA, who was aboard American Airlines Flight 11; and an unnamed woman whose family requested privacy. These identifications bring the total number of confirmed World Trade Center victims to 1,653 out of 2,753 killed, leaving about 1,100 still unidentified. The breakthroughs were made possible by improved genetic testing sensitivity and new DNA reference samples from relatives. City officials, including Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham, reaffirmed their commitment to honoring victims and returning remains to families. The ongoing work highlights the role of science in providing closure decades after the tragedy.