Police divers have now recovered seven bodies after a small plane and a helicopter collided over New York's Hudson River just after noon on Saturday, killing nine people.
The recovery operation wrapped up for the night after crews found the bodies of three victims and most of the wreckage from the Eurocopter AS 350. But they were back to work early Sunday morning, although hampered by strong currents and poor visibility. Sonar is being used to locate the Piper PA-32.
There were three members of a Pennsylvania family on the private plane - the 60-year-old pilot, Steven Altman, 49-year-old Daniel Altman, and his 16-year-old son, Douglas.
On the helicopter, operated by Liberty Tours, were five tourists from Italy - Michele Norelli, 51; his son Filippo Norelli, 16; Fabio Gallazzi, 49; his wife, Tiziana Pedroni, 44; and their son Giacomo Gallazzi, 15. The pilot of that aircraft was Jeremy Clark, 32, of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey.
There are reports Michele Norelli was in New York celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary and the trip was a gift from one of his sisters.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, but has long expressed concern that the regulation of helicopter tours is too lax.
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