The remains of two Irish doctors who perished when their Air France plane crashed in the Atlantic in 2009 could be among those spotted in wreckage on the ocean floor. The French government confirmed last week that the bodies of some passengers have been discovered, along with parts of the wreckage. Operations to recover the wreckage and the bodies are expected to begin before the end of the month. Three young Irish doctors died in the disaster which claimed the lives of all on board: Dr Jane Deasy (27), from Rathgar, County Dublin; Dr. Aisling Butler (26), from Roscrea, County Tipperary; and Dr. Eithne Walls (28), from Ballygowan, County Down. The body of Dr. Deasy was recovered during one of the initial search operations, but the bodies of Dr. Butler and Dr. Walls have not yet been found. Air France Flight 447 plunged into the Atlantic en route from Rio to Paris on May 31, 2009, killing all 228 passengers and crew on board. The three Irish friends were returning from a holiday in Brazil when the aircraft went missing. The wreckage was discovered at over 12,000 below the ocean's surface and 700 miles off the Brazilian coast. Salvaging will be a slow and difficult task. The plane did not completely fall apart as it sank to the bottom and investigators have stated that the remains of some passengers are still visible in the fuselage strapped into their seats.
