The first eight bodies recovered after last week’s Air France plane crash in the Atlantic have arrived on the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha.

A preliminary investigation into their identities will be undertaken on the island. Detailed DNA and dental record checks will be carried out later on the Brazilian mainland, in the city of Recife.

The Airbus A330-200 disappeared from the radar last week on Monday, approximately 1000 kilometres northwest of the Brazilian coast. It was carrying 228 passengers and crew, and was travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. So far, the remains of 24 bodies have been discovered, together with a piece of the plane’s tail. The Airbus’ flight data recorders, which might provide clues to why the plane crashed, remain missing.