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Bodies fished out from swirling waters

At least 17 bodies have been recovered from the debris of an Air France jet that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean last week.

A New York Times report says the men who search for the debris were battling all odds to save the fast disappearing evidence in what can be called as one of the most mysterious plane crashes in recent memory.

Besides bodies, debris was also found from the swirling waters. Search teams are also scouring for more bodies, materials, key equipment, and most importantly the Black Box.

Read on to find out how specially qualified personnel from different countries battle all odds to find clues from the mighty Atlantic Ocean. 

Plane truth: In bits and pieces

The report adds, "The bits and pieces of Air France Flight 447, recovered over the weekend -- as well as the first bodies, of two men on Saturday morning -- narrowed the search to a region of several hundred square miles some 600 miles off the northeast coast of Brazil."'

Then...what happened?

What is Left Now

The search team -- comprises five Brazilian ships, a French frigate and submarine, 12 Brazilian planes and two French ones -- says it highest priority now is to find the black box to look into the possible reasons that led to the crash.

Evidence Hangs By a Thread

The search for the plane's black box, or flight data recorder, is becoming more urgent as it will continue emitting a radio signal for only another three weeks, after which it will be near impossible to locate in the deep ocean.

Danger Signals

Meanwhile, the last few short-coded reports, sent automatically by the aircraft's sophisticated flights systems, paint a frightening but incomplete picture of multiple systems failing just before the catastrophic end.

US Navy Will Chip In

For the Black Box, the French Navy is already in action. And the US Navy is expected to send two 'pinger' locator devices.

Black Box Will Beep For 30 Days

Another report says the recorders, made by Honeywell International Inc, have water-activated 'pingers' that run for 30 days and remain intact as deep as 3.8 miles, about twice the depth of the ocean where the debris has been found.

Speed sensors went wrong?

Air France is speeding up replacement of speed sensors on all of its Airbus A-330s amid speculation that a faulty indication might have been a factor in the loss of its Rio de Janeiro-Paris flight over the Atlantic with 228 people on board.

Air France clears the air

Air France on Saturday issued a statement with details about the monitors hours after the French agency investigating the disaster said the sensors were not replaced on the doomed aircraft.

Looking for more debris

But the airline disclosed that it had begun replacing them on its Airbus A-330 models on April 27 after an improved version became available.  Pitot tubes, located on the exterior of the aircraft, are used to help measure aerodynamic speed.

France to appoint special ambassador

Considering the importance, France says it will appoint an 'ambassador' to help coordinate the investigation into the Air France Flight 447 plane crash.

It is just a baggage now

A seat and luggage was also found besides bodies.

This was the plane that sunk

A serial number from the seat and a flight ticket were found inside a leather case.

The ill-fated plane was flying from Brazil to France -- over the deadly Atlantic Ocean-- with 228 passengers when the accident happened.