Recife: A Brazilian ship has recovered three more bodies from the Atlantic as searchers said weather and currents were making their job increasingly difficult.

Forty-four bodies have now been retrieved from the Airbus 330 that crashed into the sea May 31 en route from Brazil to Paris. Authorities hope identifying the bodies will help them determine whether the plane broke up in midair by allowing them to match seating assignment with location of body recovery.

Brazilian Air Force Gen. Ramon Cardoso said the aerial search was being hindered by reduced visibility due to rainstorms.

Brazil's military will decide next week whether to halt the search for bodies on June 19.