Australian experts help identify AirAsia victims

Australian forensic experts have helped identify four more victims of AirAsia flight QZ8501 as more parts of the crashed passenger jet in the Java Sea have been found, authorities said on Tuesday. [Special coverage]

The plane,which was traveling from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore on Dec. 28, crashed killing all 162 passengers and crew on board.

A total of 37 bodies have so far been recovered, and Indonesian officials said 260 national and international doctors were working to identify the remains using finger prints, dental records and bone DNA.

Forensic experts from Australia and several other countries were assisting Indonesia in the identification process.

The Australian Federal Police said on Monday they had deployed three disaster victim identification officers and two civilian forensic experts to Surabaya.

"Australian agencies ... remain in ongoing direct contact with their Indonesian counterparts to offer support for the Indonesian response to the loss of flight QZ8501," a government spokesperson said in a statement.

"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has agreed to an Indonesian request to provide a flight recorder specialist when needed."