Brazil begins identifying bodies from Air France crash

Brazilian authorities have begun identifying bodies recovered from ill-fated Air France Flight 447. They are also hoping the evidence they gain from their search may help them determine if the jet broke up in the air.

Brazilian Air Force personnel unload from a chopper the corpse of  one of the passengers of the ill-fated Air France flight 0447  lost on midflight over the Atlantic ocean one week ago, upon  arrival at the Fernando de Noronha airport. The first 16 bodies  recovered from an Air France jet crash in the Atlantic arrived  at this remote Brazilian island on Tuesday ahead of identification, officials said.(AFP/Evaristo Sa)

Coroners in the northeastern coastal city of Recife began examining 16 bodies, hoping to identify them through DNA and photos. Aviation officials say the evidence uncovered so far points to at least a partial midair break-up of the Airbus A330.

They also say the 41 bodies retrieved are among the best evidence investigators now have to determine what happened. Meanwhile, Brazilian Air Force General Ramon Cardoso said currents caused by rainstorms in parts of the search area have dispersed bodies and debris.

The storms have also reduced visibility, further hampering Brazil's aerial search. Authorities say it has become increasingly difficult to find and recover bodies from the plane. And that the chances of recovering all of the bodies, are very remote.