The wreckage of a plane that collided with a helicopter over the Hudson River on Saturday is pulled from the water between Hoboken, N.J., and New York. (Gary Hershorn/Reuters)

The bodies of the two remaining victims of a mid-air collision over the Hudson River have been recovered.

Officials reported late Tuesday night that the two outstanding victims had been found in the wreckage of the small airplane.

Nine people died on Saturday when a single-engine Pipe collided with a sightseeing helicopter over Manhattan.

The plane was pulled from about 15 metres of water near the New Jersey side of the river on Tuesday.

Emergency officials lift the remains of an airplane that collided with a helicopter over the Hudson River. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)The dead include members of a Pennsylvania family and an Italian tour group.

Officials said the search for wreckage has been complicated because of the swift currents and murky water in the river.

Searchers are still looking for one of the plane's wings, which is believed to have separated from the aircraft when it impacted with the helicopter.

Witnesses said the small plane, which took off from Teterboro Airport and was flying at about 330 metres, approached the Liberty Helicopter Tours aircraft, which had just taken off for a 12-minute tour, and appeared to clip it with a wing.

Both aircraft split apart and fell into the river, scattering debris.

The pilots of both aircraft are believed to have been experienced and to have logged many hours in their aircraft. They are also not currently believed to have had any outstanding health issues that may have contributed to the incident, officials said.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board have said the investigation into the cause of the crash is expected to take months.

The collision has raised questions about how the airspace above the Hudson River is governed and the NTSB has said it will look at those policies during its investigation.

Planes flying above 330 metres in the area where the collision occurred need clearance from air traffic controllers. Below that altitude, planes are to navigate visually.

With files from The Associated Press