Remains of 2 Plane Crash Victims ID’d

Remains of two additional victims of the Alaska Airlines flight that crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Anacapa Island two weeks ago were identified Wednesday, authorities said.

Those names, however, were not released pending notification of next of kin. Authorities are allowing family members to decide whether they want the name of their loved one to be made public when the remains are identified.

“We’re trying to be sensitive to their needs,” said Barbara Brodfuehrer, a spokeswoman for the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The two recent identifications bring the number of identified victims’ remains to 49. Eighty-eight people were killed in the crash.

Brodfuehrer said additional remains are being analyzed but it was unclear when further identifications would be made.

Medical examiners are using fingerprints, dental comparisons, tattoos and personal effects, such as wallets, jewelry and clothing, to identify the remains.

Examiners are also doing anthropology examinations, which consider body size, gender, age estimates and unique features.

No remains have been discovered since Feb. 7, and officials do not anticipate additional recoveries until the National Transportation Safety Board decides whether to raise the wreckage of the MD-83 from the ocean floor. The decision is expected in several weeks.